I think it was a real relationship but she was not able to be as flexible as you are; couldn't see your needs in light of her own? I think she needed you as much as you enjoyed her. You both took what you enjoyed from the relationship but it sounds like she also needed the constancy of it.

Having a PhD doesn't necessarily a "together" person make! It's just schooling, not life experience. Some people are good at that. I believe we gain a whole lot more on boards like this and probably the other one you were on, interacting with each other, multiple people, than in other one-on-one relationships where we're locked into only one other person's and our own "fit" together.

I'm sorry the friendship ended like that. I know it has to be really painful after all those years investing in it.

{{{Echoes}}}