Why Didn'T I See It Coming

My long-time love dumped me on Christmas Day, decades ago. He coldly said we were too different. His verbal sucker-punch was devastating. All became a blur. I crashed into a deep, dark, lonely pit and cried for weeks. I feared I would go blind. Who breaks up with someone he doesn’t hate on Christmas? How could he be that unkind? Though sometimes haunted by this long-lost love, in time I did rise up and find my way out of that awful place where I was plunged by one who broke my heart on Christmas Day. I came to realize there had been signs, but then, I saw just what I wished to see. The saying “young and foolish” comes to mind, but just the “foolish” half applied to me! When he began to skip our mid-week date and make some lame excuse, I told myself, “Now don’t be childish. This change doesn’t mean that he’s about to put you on the shelf!” He started finding fault with how I LIVED: “You spend too much time with your family.” I let it slide, but it did seem unfair due to his choice to spend less time with me! I now see what I should’ve seen back then, the coming of the end. I should have known his love—if it WAS ever love--was dying. My poor heart broke when his turned into stone. February 3, 2023 for the I Shoulda Seen It Coming Contest Sponsor: John Lawless