MissKnowitall
Jul 25, 2010, 12:48 PM
So much wisdom out there in the world and I really need to share this with someone for feedback.
A guy I knew in college (and had a huge crush on) recently came back into my life. I never forgot about him and he said he remembered me well and felt badly for how he was towards me. So he wanted to 'make it right' and we began an intense long distance friendship. I knew that he strugged with addiction and currently is in recovery. He is doing very well, is back at work, reconnecting with is family, doing his steps etc but one of the tenets is that people should not get into any new relationships in their first year of recovery. I knew this, we talked about this so agreed to go slow.
But he became very flirtatious so I ate it up and after a few months he was able to visit me (while working in my area for a weekend). We spent one great evening together, it was perfect and yes, we were intimate but it seemed like the right thing to do. Afterwards he was sweet and communicative but what did I do? I texted him that I loved him and he didn't respond. Thereafter he slowly became distant but still tried his best to be in contact. He started a new job and has been very busy so we weren't talking nearly as we had been so I panicked (left a pathetic voicemail about missing him etc). He called me the next day and said he was 'conflicted' but cared a lot about me. He told me to not worry and relax. He has told me many times to relax over the course of this situation by the way. I was crushed to hear about him being conflicted but I didn't grasp entirely what he meant, and he was in a hurry so didn't allow me to respond.
A few days later I left a message asking him to clarify and he called me the next day and said he wasn't able to be in a relationship now. Maybe in the future but now he can't but that he cared a lot and needed me as a friend. He said he still wanted to see me again and take it 'day by day'. I told him I respected this and knew this going in since he had told me he needed go slow due to his recovery. But I was crushed and I'm sure he heard it in my voice. So a couple of days later I get a brief email from him which said he missed me, wanted me and that he had lots of fears but for me not to worry that things will be fine.
So now I am hopelessly confused. He called me a couple of days ago but I wasn't able to get the phone and he left a message saying he was thinking about me, doing great and hope I was doing well and that we could talk soon. I called back and he hasnt' responded :( I also wrote him a letter this week and told him that I understood his situation, that I am there for him and missed him but I do care a lot and hope I didn't move too fast. He probably got the letter yesterday so I have no idea how he feels about it or anything and I am confused. I did return his call but he didn't answer so that is where we are.
What should I do? I know I need to step way back but he sends me confusing mixed signals. I know his situation is very risky so he has to be very careful. I don't want him to relapse or get out of focus with his recovery but I also don't want to be strung along. Yet I do want to be there for him during this challenging time. He has always been forthcoming and I'd rather he focus on his recovery, children etc than me but it is hard for me to pull back for fear he will be gone forever from my life.
Or that he will forget about me, date someone else etc. I know I can't control the future but how do I trust the things he says about wanting me if he has slowed things way down? Ugh.
A guy I knew in college (and had a huge crush on) recently came back into my life. I never forgot about him and he said he remembered me well and felt badly for how he was towards me. So he wanted to 'make it right' and we began an intense long distance friendship. I knew that he strugged with addiction and currently is in recovery. He is doing very well, is back at work, reconnecting with is family, doing his steps etc but one of the tenets is that people should not get into any new relationships in their first year of recovery. I knew this, we talked about this so agreed to go slow.
But he became very flirtatious so I ate it up and after a few months he was able to visit me (while working in my area for a weekend). We spent one great evening together, it was perfect and yes, we were intimate but it seemed like the right thing to do. Afterwards he was sweet and communicative but what did I do? I texted him that I loved him and he didn't respond. Thereafter he slowly became distant but still tried his best to be in contact. He started a new job and has been very busy so we weren't talking nearly as we had been so I panicked (left a pathetic voicemail about missing him etc). He called me the next day and said he was 'conflicted' but cared a lot about me. He told me to not worry and relax. He has told me many times to relax over the course of this situation by the way. I was crushed to hear about him being conflicted but I didn't grasp entirely what he meant, and he was in a hurry so didn't allow me to respond.
A few days later I left a message asking him to clarify and he called me the next day and said he wasn't able to be in a relationship now. Maybe in the future but now he can't but that he cared a lot and needed me as a friend. He said he still wanted to see me again and take it 'day by day'. I told him I respected this and knew this going in since he had told me he needed go slow due to his recovery. But I was crushed and I'm sure he heard it in my voice. So a couple of days later I get a brief email from him which said he missed me, wanted me and that he had lots of fears but for me not to worry that things will be fine.
So now I am hopelessly confused. He called me a couple of days ago but I wasn't able to get the phone and he left a message saying he was thinking about me, doing great and hope I was doing well and that we could talk soon. I called back and he hasnt' responded :( I also wrote him a letter this week and told him that I understood his situation, that I am there for him and missed him but I do care a lot and hope I didn't move too fast. He probably got the letter yesterday so I have no idea how he feels about it or anything and I am confused. I did return his call but he didn't answer so that is where we are.
What should I do? I know I need to step way back but he sends me confusing mixed signals. I know his situation is very risky so he has to be very careful. I don't want him to relapse or get out of focus with his recovery but I also don't want to be strung along. Yet I do want to be there for him during this challenging time. He has always been forthcoming and I'd rather he focus on his recovery, children etc than me but it is hard for me to pull back for fear he will be gone forever from my life.
Or that he will forget about me, date someone else etc. I know I can't control the future but how do I trust the things he says about wanting me if he has slowed things way down? Ugh.