Being on the other end, the dumpee, is way harder than being the dumper. As the dumper it's easy to say, let's be friends... helps with the guilt, and feels like the dumpee accepts and forgives. Mind games. I was in love, 18 years, a family problem came up and I had to help my kids---serious situation tha took much of my emotional time from my partner. During that time I also lost my job, ran up a credit card---as will happen when you are not working--long story short, my partner told me it was time to let me go because I ran up the credit card. Of course, I knew this was not the real reason and I did not get the real reason, although found out a month later that there was someone else. So, the 'lets be friends' thing came up and I about threw up. NO WAY. And then the statement, "I still love you". Total manipulation to keep me hanging on 'just in case'.

It took some doing, but I have detached and no longer speak to that person. It's been two years and I am still healing. I may never be in another long term relationship.