Thinking he’d met ‘the one’, Tom*, then 32, booked a special hotel for them both – but his girlfriend started acting strangely as soon as they arrived…
My relationship with Stacey* was an exciting, romantic whirlwind. We met when she was a guest at a wedding where I was performing – she said, “You’re a bit fit, aren’t you?” and slipped me her number.
I’ve been flirted with at work before and don’t usually think much of it, but it really struck me how forward she was, and I was flattered. She’s stunningly beautiful and I thought she was out of my league, so it was a real ego boost.
I’m usually very professional at work, but I nipped to the loo and thought, ‘Actually, I’ll text her.’ I told her when I was leaving and to come and have a chat. Within seconds, we were all over each other.
She lived over 100 miles away but we texted for a couple of days and then she turned up to see me. I was surprised, she was so keen.
I thought the distance would be a barrier but we never let it stop us – we’d see each other three or four times a week and I’d often drive down there after work, just for a few hours, then back home because of work the next morning.
It was lovely, romantic and intense. Stacey was quite a full-on person, and I’m pretty all or nothing myself.
Falling in love
I’d been single for two years, working on myself and at the point where I was willing to let somebody into my life. As much as I’m led by my heart, I’m quite pragmatic and not usually one to jump into something but I just had this feeling of, ‘This could be the one.’ We talked about being exclusive and I thought, ‘I’m not going to miss this chance.’ After a few months, it felt like we’d been together for years.
I’m quite pragmatic and not usually one to jump into something but I just had this feeling of, ‘This could be the one.’
Three months into our relationship, it was Stacey’s birthday and we decided to have our first trip away together. I asked where she wanted to go and she said she’d never visited Edinburgh and would love to go, it was on her bucket list. So I made it happen.
I wanted it to be special, and I booked a romantic evening meal and a bottomless brunch for the next day, just as she wanted. I also splashed out £600 on two nights in a nice hotel.
The night before, we’d had a great night out with her friends who told me how happy she was since she met me, so there was no sign at all of anything being wrong. But, as we arrived at the hotel, she seemed a bit quiet. She told me she wasn’t feeling well and could we cancel dinner, so we ordered room service and then I went to the bar for a drink while she had a lie down. When I came back, she’d fallen asleep and then I did too.
A disappearing act
When I woke up at 7.30am, she wasn’t there. I thought perhaps she’d gone out for a cigarette, but I went into the bathroom, and there was no toothbrush, no toiletries, nothing. I wondered if she’d put them in her bag, but there was no suitcase either, so I went outside and saw that her car had gone. I could only assume that she’d left and gone home.
I thought, ‘What the hell do I do?’ I tried ringing and texting, but no reply, it was like she had evaporated.
I just felt shell-shocked. I thought, ‘What the hell do I do?’ I tried ringing and texting, but no reply, it was like she had evaporated. If she’d told me it wasn’t working out, at least I would have had closure, but nothing.
I left the hotel – it would have been too weird to stay there for the second night – and went home where I stayed in bed for two days. I felt every single emotion. Mostly, I was p***ed off. I’d blown hundreds of pounds on a hotel, for a start. But it was her lack of respect for me that hurt the most – she knew my back story of what I’d been through with other breakups and how much it took for me to actually allow myself to get into a relationship.
Shocked and hurt
She continued to ghost me and blocked me on all her social media – it was almost like she’d erased me. I put my guard back up again and was amazed how much it set me back.
It took me weeks to get over the initial shock and several more months to get over the relationship because of the way she’d acted, without any consideration for me at all. It was the worst breakup that I’ve ever had – and I’ve had some really bad breakups.
She continued to ghost me and blocked me on all her social media – it was almost like she’d erased me.
Eventually, I worked through it to the point where I realised what a lucky escape I’d had and, now, I hold no bitterness towards her. A few months ago, I discovered she went back to her ex-boyfriend and has since had a baby. And me? Last September, I met my new partner and we’re now in a very happy and healthy relationship – in fact we went away for her birthday recently, and had a very lovely time, thanks very much.
*Names have been changed to protect identities.
Read more: All of Yahoo UK’s How I was dumped stories.
