One ends a romantic relationship while remaining a compassionate friend by being kind above all else. By explaining one’s decision to leave the relationship with love and respect and emotional transparency. By being honest without being brutal. By expressing gratitude for what was given. By taking responsibility for mistakes and attempting to make

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With full confidence and love I told him how much I appreciated our time together and that I accepted that he wasn’t able to give me what I wanted. I owned my part and apologized for controlling or manipulating the relationship in any way. My final words were, “I accept you, I forgive you, and I release you.” He was somewhat disappointed but proud

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I had my reasons, of course. As I say, she is crazy. I am, too, but in a very different way. The immense effort it took for me to spend a whole day with her and ensure that it was “perfect”—that I did nothing to offend, upset, or bother her—proved to me that we just didn’t work. And I thought: When a relationship does not work, each party has the

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