Girlfriend wants separation, but we're still in love.
Hello,
My girlfriend of nearly two years just told me recently that she thinks it is best if we separate as she needs time to clear her head and make sure I am the one she wants to spend the rest of her life with. This announcement caught me 100% offguard. In fact, the week prior to this we spent almost every day together (we're both seniors in a university and live near each other) and she told me many times during this week that she loved me. In fact, she even apologized for saying it too many times but she said she had to say it because it's how she feels. This is nothing new: we have had a very successful relationship, many people who see us say we make a great couple, and we love each other very dearly. Also, we both agree that we are not currently ready to marry each other... but throughout our nearly 2 years together she often talked about life as a married couple (i.e. she'd say, when we're married can we make sure we have a date night).
Her reasoning for breaking up is that she knows I am someone she can marry, but she feels like she should date other people so she can make sure I am the one. When she came over to my apartment to announce her decision for separation, she told me that she wanted space and she also apologized to me (through tears) saying that she doesn't know any better. I have done my best with her request for space... it has been nearly 1 month since we separated and the only time I called her was one week after this happened to tell her that I respect her decision and that I do want her to figure things out.
Since then, whenever we see each other on campus both of us can't help but smile at one another and she has given me hugs on various occasions. Also, she called me last week because she said she was thinking about me and we talked and caught each other up with what was going on in our lives. I can tell she still cares about me... she even said that she's doing whatever she can to keep her mind busy so as to not think about me.
My question is this: is a mistake being made here? I mean, I believe it's important for her to know what she wants and I wouldn't want her to break up with me in the future when we're even more serious. But at the same time, she's forcing this agony and pain onto herself. She still has feelings for me and she knows I still have feelings for her. I think the best course of action is to continue giving her space in hopes that she'll soon realize that we should be together... but I can't help but think there is something else I can do.
Thanks