She didn't deserve you. I was building something new, piece by piece, and her absence, it stopped hurting. It just was. About a month after I went no contact, the karma started rolling in, at least from what I pieced together through the grapevine. Mutual friends mentioned Katie was posting cryptic stuff on social media about lessons learned and unexpected turns, but I didn't check myself.
Then came the direct hits. Turns out Alex, the exciting guy, wasn't looking for anything serious. They'd hooked up a few times, but when Katie pushed for commitment, telling him she was all in now that I was out of the picture, he bailed. Ghosted her completely after a weekend getaway where she apparently confessed her feelings. Friends said she unravelled fast, calling in sick to work, isolating herself, even losing a big client because she blew a presentation.
Her smug confidence from our breakup shattered. She became the backup she tried to make me. The attempts to reconcile started small. First, an email, since I blocked her number, titled "Can We Talk?" It read, "Hey, I miss our chats.
Things with Alex fizzled. He was just a phase. Remember how good we were as friends? Let's grab coffee, no pressure. I could use your advice right now."
Casual, like nothing happened. I deleted it without reply. A week later, she escalated, showed up at my new building's lobby, buzzing the intercom. "It's me." Her voice crackled through.
"I know you're up there. Please, just 5 minutes. I screwed up. I see that now. You were always the steady one.
I took it for granted. Can't we at least be friends again? The benefits part was stupid. I was confused." I didn't buzz her in.
Instead, I texted the doorman to say I wasn't home. But she didn't stop. Her friends got involved next, toxic as hell. One, her bestie Sarah, called from an unknown number. "Dude, you're being a dick.
Katie's going through it. Alex used her and dipped. She needs her support system. You owe her after all those years. Grow up and answer her texts.
Another, her cousin Mike messaged on LinkedIn of all places, "Family's worried about her. She's not eating, crying all the time. Be a man and forgive. Everyone makes mistakes. Don't make this harder than it needs to be."
Unpleasant, pushy, like I was the villain for setting boundaries. By the third attempt, desperation turned to anger. Voicemails piled up from borrowed phones. "How can you ignore me like this after I was honest with you? You're punishing me for exploring.