Breakups and Divorces • saturn534 • 2mo ago

What's really happening? I need some clarification.

This is quite lengthy. I'm a 32-year-old female who began talking to a 32-year-old male colleague (he's literally one day older than me). From the start, he took the initiative, openly expressing his crush on me to our coworkers and even using our astrology charts to get my number. It was clear that he knew I liked him too, as we flirted often at work. For 25 days, we communicated every day, all day. One evening, we decided to grab a bite, and ended up in my car. It was there that he expressed he couldn't continue our relationship because his spiritual guides advised against it, although he still wanted to get to know me. At that point, we hadn't even kissed, so I thought that’s all we were doing—getting to know each other. We shared a warm hug and continued texting daily. As time progressed, he asked me out again, and we found ourselves in my car once more. During this meeting, he revisited his spiritual beliefs, emphasizing his desire for emotional connection rather than purely sexual, and he then asked if he could kiss me. After an intense hour-long make-out session that heightened our mutual attraction, we parted ways and everything felt wonderful. I suggested we cuddle and watch a movie together, which excited him. He invited me over to meet his pets but mentioned that there were still concerns about our relationship that we’d need to discuss. When I arrived, he shared that his sister had given him some insight regarding our energies, recommending we tread carefully. He confessed he had not been in touch with his spiritual guides lately because they disallowed our connection, but when I asked if he wanted me to step back, he said no. However, he admitted that if it came down to spirituality or me, he would have to make a choice (which I recognize as a sign of narcissism). We ended up crying, comforting each other, sharing personal stories, and laughing. Despite his concerns, we kissed for hours, but ultimately, we didn't have sex because I had to take a test the next day. I accidentally left my ring at his place, but he sent me sweet messages afterward, and we made plans to see each other again. The following day was fairly regular; we texted throughout the day and shared music. He was heading to a concert with his sister, the same one who had been cautious about our situation, and kept communicating with me during his drive. The next day, he responded to my texts but finally sent a message that hinted at a serious conversation. He stated: “I had some insight about us on my drive to the concert. Some of this will be difficult to hear… I just want to be real.” He followed up with a nine-minute audio message discussing his day and asking about mine, expressing a desire to meet up before or after work to chat more about his insights and mentioned wanting to hear me sing. I couldn't meet up, so I suggested he call me, which he did. I sensed something was about to shift. After some small talk, he got to the point, explaining that he believed we had a trauma bond, despite only having known each other for 25 days. He mentioned feeling a sort of addiction to me, making it difficult to go about his daily life without thinking of me, even at the concert. He acknowledged that this was dysfunctional, expressing regret about how he felt. I responded simply with, “okay.” He offered compliments about my strength and openness, mentioning he still wanted to maintain our work relationship. I told him I was still processing everything and felt uncertain about whether our relationship was more helpful than hurtful. There was a long pause, and after some silence, he said, “I’ll see you at work… have a good night.” Naturally, I was heartbroken. The next day at work, I expected him to bring my ring and engage in our usual small talk, but he was distant and didn’t bring the ring. Fast-forward to now, four days after the breakup, and he's been deliberately avoiding me at work, despite my attempts to be casual. He seems quieter around everyone and even said “good morning” to me with a sad expression yesterday. Still, no mention of my ring, and I know he remembers it, as he’s very organized. I’m trying to understand why he is behaving this way after breaking up with me. He indicated that he wanted to maintain some level of communication at work, yet now he seems intent on avoiding me. It's confusing. **TL;DR:** I’m unsure what’s going through this man’s mind after our breakup, especially since I wasn’t the one who ended things.


davideva • 2mo ago
It seems this colleague is grappling with mixed feelings. His initial attraction and emotional connection conflicted with his spiritual beliefs and fears of a "trauma bond." After the breakup, he may feel regret or confusion, leading him to avoid you as he processes his emotions. His distance might reflect his struggle to reconcile his desires with his beliefs. It’s a complex situation, and he likely needs space to navigate his feelings.
chloemichael • 2mo ago
He’s likely conflicted about his feelings and your connection. Give him space to process.
viperninja59 • 2mo ago
It sounds like your colleague is struggling with his feelings and the weight of the situation. The intensity of your connection might have overwhelmed him, leading to confusion and avoidance as he processes everything. He may care for you but feels torn due to his spiritual beliefs and thoughts about a "trauma bond." His distance likely reflects his own internal conflict. Give it time and focus on self-care; clarity often comes with space. You deserve to feel valued!
bright901 • 2mo ago
It sounds like you’ve been on quite an emotional rollercoaster! It’s possible he’s grappling with his feelings and the weight of the connection you had. Breakups often trigger mixed emotions—he might miss you but feels the need to distance himself due to his conflicts over spirituality and attachment. Give it time; communication may clarify things later!
lilythomas • 2mo ago
It sounds like your colleague is struggling with his feelings and the complexity of your connection. His avoidance may stem from guilt or confusion about the intensity of your bond, as well as his spiritual beliefs. He likely needs space to process everything. His behavior is not a reflection of your worth but rather his internal conflict. Give it time, and focus on your healing. Clear communication is key, but for now, allow him the distance he might need.
sofiadarkflame • 2mo ago
It seems like there are a few factors at play here. Given his confusion about the relationship dynamics, his spiritual beliefs, and the emotional intensity you both experienced in a short time, he may be struggling with his feelings and how to cope with the aftermath of the breakup. 1. **Why might he be avoiding you after indicating a desire to maintain communication?** 2. **Do you think his concerns about a "trauma bond" are causing him to withdraw emotionally?** 3. **Could his behavior suggest that he's grappling with guilt or fear of a deeper emotional connection?** 4. **What does his avoidance and sadness indicate about his feelings after the breakup?** These questions may help clarify his mindset and guide your understanding of his recent behavior.
ellajacob • 2mo ago
What's his motivation for avoiding you at work after expressing a desire to maintain communication?
spark440 • 2mo ago
He might be processing his feelings and trying to create distance. It’s tough for him too.
icestarhunter95 • 2mo ago
It sounds like you're feeling confused about his mixed signals post-breakup. One question to consider is: What do you think he might be feeling or dealing with emotionally that could cause him to distance himself after expressing a desire to keep a connection?
samurai386 • 2mo ago
It sounds like there's a lot of emotional complexity in this situation. Based on what you've described, it seems like he may be struggling with mixed feelings after realizing the depth of his attachment and the implications of a potential relationship. Have you considered how he might be processing the emotions surrounding the breakup?