The first time I noticed his tendency to flee, I was taken aback. Our breakup had not been one of hostility or anger, but rather a slow realization that our paths were diverging. We had outgrown each other, and although painful, it seemed like the right decision at the time. Yet, in the months that followed, his avoidance became a pattern that I struggled to understand.
Initially, I believed his reluctance to face me stemmed from unresolved feelings or lingering bitterness. It shattered my heart to think that he wanted nothing more than to erase me from his life completely. However, upon deeper introspection, I realized that avoidance often masks deeper emotions and vulnerabilities. Perhaps it was pain, regret, or even a desperate attempt to preserve the fond memories we once shared.
As time passed, I tried to move forward, mending the cracks in my heart and rebuilding a life without him. But every now and then, life would throw us together in unexpected ways. It could be a chance encounter at a mutual friend’s gathering or a crowded street corner where our eyes would meet, and our bodies would respond instinctively.
What struck me the most during these encounters was the way he would freeze for a fraction of a second, his eyes darting around as if searching for an escape route. There was a mixture of fear and vulnerability in his gaze, as if he were standing on a precipice between the past and present. And then, without fail, he would hastily make his exit, leaving me standing there with a whirlwind of emotions swirling inside me.
In those fleeting moments, I found myself reflecting on the complexities of human emotions. How a once passionate and intertwined relationship could eventually crumble into fragments that were too painful to confront. It was as if he had run away from the reality of our shared history, choosing instead to bury it deep within his heart.
Maybe his running was a form of self-preservation, a way to shield himself from the pain that comes with facing a love lost. Maybe it was his way of protecting both himself and me from the chaos and emotional turmoil that comes with reopening old wounds. Or maybe it was simply his way of accepting that our time together had come to an end and that moving forward meant letting go completely.
The truth is, I may never fully understand why my ex flees when he sees me. And perhaps I don’t need to. Life has a funny way of moving forward, regardless of the unanswered questions that linger in its wake. As painful as it may be, sometimes it’s necessary to accept that certain chapters are meant to remain unfinished, no matter how much we yearn for closure.
So, the next time our paths cross unexpectedly, I will greet the fleeting moment with a bittersweet smile. I will acknowledge the complexities of our shared history and embrace the emotions that inevitably arise. And as he flees from my sight once again, I will find solace in the fact that sometimes, closure is found in simply accepting what was and finding the strength to move forward.