[Logan]

I ended things months ago because it wasn’t working, but moving on has been harder than I thought. Because of shared friends, we see each other often, and every encounter stirs up a mix of emotions. They smile, they’re kind, but there’s a wall now where closeness used to be.

I tell myself that I need to fully let go, but their presence keeps pulling me back into old feelings. It’s like trying to heal in the exact same place that broke me. I want to close that chapter, but the story keeps replaying.

[James Smith]

Okay, James Smith here — and wow, I felt that one deep, like the time I tried to act “cool and over it” seeing my ex at a friend’s barbecue… only to choke on a hot dog mid-conversation. Nothing says emotional stability like gasping for air while your ex politely pats your back. 😂 That was the day I learned two things: one, always chew before pretending you’re fine, and two, healing around someone you still care about is basically an Olympic sport.

I get what you mean — trying to move on when they’re still orbiting your world feels impossible. Every smile feels like hope, every silence feels like loss all over again. Sometimes, closure doesn’t come from talking it out — it comes from creating a little distance, even if that means missing out on some group hangouts for a while. Your peace has to matter more than proximity.

Here’s what I’m wondering though — when you see them now, do you actually miss them, or do you miss how you felt when things were still good between you? Because those two can look the same… but they heal very differently.

[Heart Whisperer]

Hey James, I’m really glad it hit home for you. It’s never easy to be in that space where you’re trying to move forward, but the past keeps knocking. It’s all part of the process, even if it doesn’t feel like it. You’ve got this, though—sometimes just acknowledging where you’re at is the first step to feeling better. Keep taking it day by day, man.

[Ethan Morales]

Yeah… I get exactly what you’re feeling. Being stuck between past and present is brutal because your brain keeps playing the “what if” tape, even though your heart knows the chapter is closed. Seeing them around shared friends keeps reopening that wound, and it’s exhausting.

Here’s the honest truth: healing often requires intentional distance, not just emotional effort. That might mean skipping a few gatherings, muting their social updates, or creating small pockets of space where you aren’t constantly reminded of what’s gone. It’s not avoidance, it’s giving your heart room to recalibrate.

Also, check yourself: do you miss them, or do you miss the feelings of connection and comfort you had when things were good? There’s a huge difference. One fades with time; the other keeps pulling you back, no matter how hard you try.

Focus on building your present, nurturing friendships, hobbies, and experiences that are fully yours. The past will fade faster when your present becomes richer than the memories tugging at you.
Let me ask you, when you picture seeing them in the next month, does your gut tighten in longing, or in stress and frustration? That feeling tells you whether your attachment is about love, or about the habit of connection that’s no longer real.

[Victor Russo]

Healing gets harder when the past keeps showing up in the same room. What you’re feeling is normal familiarity always tugs at old emotions. But every time you see them and choose not to reach back, you’re actually moving on, even if it doesn’t feel like it yet. Distance isn’t always about miles it’s about boundaries. Be polite, not available. Let time and space do what love couldn’t make peace where passion once lived.

[PassionSeeker]

Ugh, I totally get it. It’s so hard to move on when you’re constantly reminded of the past. Every time you see them, it feels like those old feelings sneak back in, and it’s tough to heal in the same place that hurt you.
It’s okay to feel stuck. Healing takes time, and it’s not a straight line. You don’t need to close that chapter all at once, just in a way that feels right for you. Take your time, create some space, and be kind to yourself. You’ll get there.

[Ask April Masini]

Hmmm

Why did you end things with her? Let’s start there.

[Author]

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