‘I Was Dumped, and Now I Feel Disposable’

I had my heart shattered a few months ago, and I still haven’t fully recovered. I had (what I thought was) a great relationship with a wonderful man. He never brought up any problem he had with me, and he constantly reiterated how lucky he was. When he abruptly left, he said it was due to his declining mental health.

In the months since, I have doubled down on therapy. I’ve read books, listened to podcasts, tried to foster my other relationships, taken myself on dates, and cried and cried. And you know what? He hasn’t reached out. Not once. I feel an overwhelming sense of grief and shame. I understand he couldn’t be in a relationship, but I thought we meant something to each other as people. Why say (while crying) that he wanted me in his life, and then not reach out? How could I have gone from “the greatest person” to nothing? Did I do something wrong?

Thom Browne bested Adidas in its three-stripe lawsuit against him, and he looked good doing it. Emma Chamberlain’s face has a new job. Five places named using a racist slur for a Native woman have been rechristened. Check out the many national costumes from the 71st annual Miss Universe pageant. Twenty top British and Irish universities are offering free online courses to Afghan women in response to the Taliban’s ban. Taylor Swift may be single-handedly keeping vinyl alive. This book return gives new meaning to “better late than never.” And in hard times like these, it’s important to have something to look forward to. Here are 218.

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