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The Complexity of Human Connection: Reflections on a Lost Relationship

by AilahEvelynMae


Ladies and gentlemen,

Today, I stand before you to share a reflection on the intricacies of human relationships and the profound impact they can have on our lives. I once possessed an intricate knowledge of someone's existence, an insight into their deepest desires and vulnerabilities. I was privy to their dreams, their pain, and their remarkable journey of self-improvement. Every nuance, every freckle on their face, and the way their hair glimmered in the May firelight were etched in my memory.

Being in their company was a privilege, for I was the one they chose to spend their Friday nights with. I was the one they held close, and I was the guardian of their most treasured secrets, entrusted with confidences shared with no one else. In their presence, I found purpose and meaning, until circumstances unfolded, and I could no longer be a part of their world.

Initially, I placed blame upon them, convinced it was their actions that caused our rift. But as time passed, I came to realize that the fault was my own. I lacked the strength, readiness, and willingness to fully trust another person, a failing that lay squarely with me. We used to converse for hours, our discussions stretching into the sunset, and I recall them saying, "Just one more song," repeatedly, as if they dreaded the end of our time together.

I often felt like a spectator, analyzing their character from an outsider's perspective. They seemed almost too perfect, and I hesitated to let them into my life because no one had ever made me feel special before. No one had ever truly loved me. My inability to trust stemmed from the unpredictability and unreliability of those closest to me, leaving me feeling like a helpless child, lost and alone, searching for a shepherd who had long been absent from my life.

In my mind, I constructed the notion that they were a wolf in sheep's clothing, feigning friendship and intimacy to manipulate and use me for their own gain. My self-doubt led me to believe that I was unlovable and unwanted, even by someone who had professed their love for me every day for four months. I understand now that my self-sabotage played a significant role in our unraveling, and I deeply regret it. The weight of my actions rests heavily on my chest, an inexorable pull toward a closed door that neither of us is willing to open.

My feelings for them persist despite everything. No one had ever loved me as they did, and no one had ever cared for me with such intensity. Yet, it's all gone now, as if it never existed. Their apparent shift in priorities shattered the remnants of trust and respect I had for myself and the person I could become. The memories of countless nights spent stargazing on a mountain, held close and warm in their embrace, now feel like fragments of a distant past.

It's with a heavy heart that I acknowledge they deserve better. By this, I mean they deserve a relationship that is not marred by uncertainty and half-hearted commitment. They deserve the opportunity to flourish unhindered by the shadows of our past. What remains unspoken is the depth of my longing for them, the profound need I feel for their presence, and the profound influence they've had on my personal growth. In the end, what remains is this pain we share.

Regrettably, they will never truly comprehend the tears my heart has shed since our parting. I know them, I understand who they are, but I struggle to move forward, haunted by the knowledge that they know me just as intimately.

I would like to address a heartfelt message, and if the one I miss is among us today, I want you to hear these words. My heart aches, torn by the absence that has grown between us. I miss you deeply, I yearn for your presence, and I feel an undeniable need for your understanding. I pray, earnestly, that someday the reasons why our paths diverged will become clear to me. I pray that peace will grace my heart, slowly dissipating the longing I harbor for you to recognize me as special once more.

In closing, let us remember that our interactions with others, their impact on our lives, and our influence on theirs are complex and multifaceted. The dynamics of human relationships often defy simple explanation, leaving us with memories that linger long after the connections themselves have faded.

Thank you.


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Thu Sep 14, 2023 10:44 pm
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ariah347 wrote a review...



Hey there! This is a pretty profound confession - albeit if it is from personal experience. It may not be, and I may just be assuming, so if I'm wrong, let me know! If true-life events do not inspire it, you put the narrator into that space well. I felt like I was reading a personal diary entry wrapped in life advice and wisdom meant to be bestowed upon the reader. It felt intrusive yet intentional. There are many great word choices in this passage. The following stand out: privy, nuance, rift, marred, multifaceted, inexorable, and more! The richness of the word choice added to the intensity of your inability to trust and let this person in, causing the relationship's demise. This cautionary tale is very relatable, and the way this is written made me feel like I was reliving my own situation as if this was my own pain. It is almost written like a speech but also feels so deeply held that it forgoes into an intimacy that is less formal than a speech. The blending of these two formats and styles really made this enjoyable. Overall, I enjoyed reading it. The advice at the end with the closing paragraph: "Let us remember that our interactions with others, their impact on our lives, and our influence on theirs are complex and multifaceted. The dynamics of human relationships often defy simple explanation, leaving us with memories that linger long after the connections themselves have faded," this is a message worthy of a speech to the masses! Kudos to you. Wishing you well wherever you are in the world. <3




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Thu Sep 14, 2023 6:55 pm
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alliyah wrote a review...



Hey Ailah, here to review in honor of Review Month, let's take a look shall we?

This piece comes across so heart-felt, it feels part-poetry, part-blog, part-article and it works very well together in very clearly communicating your experience, feelings, and intensions.

I think there are many people can relate to the feelings expressed here even though they are personal to you. I certainly can relate to this experience! Love is complicated (soooo complicated) and although the movies portray it as boy & girl fall together and then everything falls into place~ because we each carry complicated histories sometimes it's simply not that simple and especially so when our former relationships / friendships / family-origins did not make us feel secure in our relationships or who we are. It's hard to overcome the way your heart is wired from our past - but super valuable to be aware of.

I think what you describe about self-sabotaging a relationship / overthinking the relationship, because you had trouble believing it was real / or that you wouldn't get hurt is probably a more common experience than people would admit. There's a vulnerability to love - because we open ourselves up to be known for who we are and hurt for showing the deepest parts of ourselves.

I'm sorry for whatever experiences you've had that have led up this situation - and if I can give some totally unsolicited advice, would say it may very well be worth letting the person know about your growth / thinking / reflections on the break-down of the relationship - even if there isn't reconciliation there is certainly value in having the chance to share your feelings so that unsaid important things aren't left hanging - it may even give a sense of closure to the situation. For what it's worth I think it is very strong of you to have been able to do some of this deep reflection and hopefully it'll maybe even help someone else to read it.

I don't have very many suggestions especially for what seems like such a formal piece - I thought it was a little odd to have begun with "Ladies and gentlemen" just in that for me it sort of set up a tone where I didn't know what to expect?
The vibe I ended up getting at the end was a reflective, somber, hoping, longing tone - that I could imagine being read in the background of a documentary or drama-movie while the camera pans up to the stars and the scene slowly fades. It's dramatic, but doesn't feel manufactured or petty or immature - it feels sincere and heart-felt (which is sometimes hard to capture in writing!)

I think that you've got some really strong poetic-feeling lines in here that would be interesting to expand on, or even do a poetry pairing with. For instance

Every nuance, every freckle on their face, and the way their hair glimmered in the May firelight were etched in my memory.


^^ How gorgeous is that line!

The language you use throughout also certainly makes the piece feel very elevated, there's strong word choice throughout littered with little metaphors too - I didn't catch any typos / or places that I thought the phrasing was off, so very good job editing this too! I would love to read more poems on this subject and wish you all the best in your writing and life endeavors - please let me know if there was an aspect you wanted me to say more about in my review and I'd be happy to try my best.

alliyah

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A diamond is merely a lump of coal that did well under pressure.
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