My girlfriend saw her ex and now is confused and wants space... what do I do?
My girlfriend and I have been together nearly a year, she went out on the weekend and her ex happened to be at the same party, nothing happened between them but something was set off inside her. She came home that night and was in a great mood until he called at 4am yelling and abusing her for leaving him behind at the party, she defended herself by saying "I wasnt there with you, i saw you there, why arent you calling your mates and yelling at them" she then went silent as his ranting continued. She got off the phone and I could tell something was wrong, she was extremely upset and then broke down to me and said "babe I love you sooo much, but i still have feelings for him also and I dont know what to do." We talked about it for awhile then got sleepy so we said we would try to sleep and talk about it tomorrow. She was meant to be here until 2pm Sunday but upon waking up she said she wanted to leave at 11 to see her friend. Before leaving she cuddled me and cried her eyes out for what seemed like eternity, then she kissed me very passionately and said "I DO LOVE YOU!!" Upon dropping her at her friends she looked me in the eyes and said "I LOVE YOU, I WANT TO SORT THIS OUT FOR US" Not long after she texted me saying "Babe when I say I love you i mean it, i dont want you to doubt my love for you, i will call you later and we will talk." She did call me later but only to say that she called her ex and they were going to talk about things (he has been in a relationship for 9 months, and my girlfriend and I could not be open about our relationship because there is a substantial age gap and it worried her, although she did say it wouldn't worry her by years end, and we would always count down to that date together). Anyway she went and saw him and they talked for hours, when she got home she called me and was silent on the phone, I asked her how it went and she said "babe i lvoe you but this is gonna hurt you" I told her just to let me have it. She said that whilst talking to her ex he kissed her and she kissed back and she hates herself for it. She then said that she needs space and if somebody comes into my life in that time to go for it because I deserve true happiness. She said she wishes she could be with me right now because I do make her so happy and I am an amazing person, but that she needs time to clear her head. She told me she loves me but has feelings for him and it is unfair to be with me when she is confused.
This all occurred on Sunday night and it is now Tuesday morning. We used to talk every morning and every night but I have not heard from her. I want to give her the space, but at what point do I make contact, I really love her and I was so happy in the relationship. I heard from a mutual friend that she has been really upset since everything that happened on Sunday. Do I call? Do I text and ask how she is? Or do I leave her to sort her head and contact me. Part of me says If she truelly does love me, then giving her a chance to miss me will make her realise that.
As we led a very discreet relationship only her closest friends knew, not even her parents knew about us, but she had talked recently about wanting to tell them but she was scared about how they would take it. She has a very close relationship with them and did not want to break that apart, I tolf her that when she was ready she could tell them and until such time I wouldn't push it, she said to me "I just wanna be with you for everyone to see NOW, i dont want to have to wait" do you think maybe the worry about her parents has forced her to try to end this? Maybe she thinks if she ends it then she never has to tell them?
I am really confused and really, really missing her. I am trying to keep myself ultra busy but it is sooo hard, I just want to call her and be there, but maybe by not calling I am also being there because I am giving her the space she needs.
Sorry about the massive question, but hopefully someone out there can help me