The Miss Elaine-ous Life

random acts of life, family and photos

  • Home
  • About Me
  • My Writing
  • Old School Blogging
  • Photography
  • Blogroll
  • Contact/PR
  • Cookie Policy (US)

Break Up

March 18, 2011 by Elaine

He sat on the weathered bench at the picnic table under a huge and familiar oak tree. We were at a park that I had loved to play at as a child, with its hills and enormous jungle gym. I sat next to him, so elated to be back from my first year of college and just minutes, instead of hours, away from him again.

But something was different.

He took my hand in his and gently caressed it like he’d done so many times before and suddenly I saw it in his eyes.

This isn’t working anymore Elaine.

Automatically the park became my least favorite place on earth. I thought the tree might fall on me. I couldn’t breathe and my heart started to beat a zillion times a minute. I could feel the heat flood my face like someone had placed me right before a huge flame. Tears immediately filled my eyes and my head fell, facing the dirt. I could see tiny ants going about their business. How could they?

I knew we’d both changed a lot in the last nine months. His love letters were less frequent. He didn’t talk of us getting married anymore. I’d kissed someone else. Apparently so had he. But I never expected this. I felt like I’d been punched in the gut by my best friend. He was strong enough to know the truth and make this decision and I was not. Even that was more crushing.

I remember my mother coming to comfort me as I cried for a few days. I did love him as much as any 19 year old could. I thought my world had come to an end.

I never expected this detour.

But it was one of the best ones that I could have ever been forced to take. I’d hoped for one path but was sent on another by his choice.

At first this new path took me to a few places that I probably shouldn’t have gone but ultimately led me to “the one” – the person that became my final destination.

I wish I could have taken away some of the pain and ache that lingered after he drove me back to my parents house that day. But otherwise, I would keep things the same.

It’s funny how something we consider a turn for the worse can end up being one of the best things ever.



write – fiction or non-fiction – about a time when you took a detour. Where had you intended to go and where did you end up?

Filed Under: Memories, the past, TRDC, writing

« Looking Back, Facing Forward
My BIRTHDAY is coming up, why don’t we celebrate with a give away?! »

Comments

  1. Galit Breen says

    March 18, 2011 at 2:39 am

    So sad but so necessary.

    Those first loves hurt. A lot.

    I know what you mean about somethings being for the best even though they don’t feel like it at the time.

    & my favorite line? Was about loving as much as you could at 19. So true.

    Loved this glimpse of your story!

  2. tracy says

    March 18, 2011 at 2:40 am

    Oh I still have pains from the first love. Bastard. But so glad life turned out the way it did.
    Love this, hon.

  3. timkeen40 says

    March 18, 2011 at 11:13 am

    But without that pain you could never truly enjoy the real thing. The pain serves to make the sweet moments even sweeter.

    http://timkeen40.worpdress.com

  4. Tyne says

    March 18, 2011 at 1:16 pm

    Elaine, my heart was breaking right there with you… beautifully written.

  5. Leighann says

    March 18, 2011 at 2:04 pm

    Oh this one hit home.
    I can so relate to this. Right down to the age I was.
    But, like you, it was the best thing that could have ever happened to me.

  6. Ilana @ mommyshorts says

    March 18, 2011 at 2:55 pm

    This is the best line: “He was strong enough to know the truth and make this decision and I was not. Even that was more crushing.” It says everything. And I have definitely been there.

  7. Jennifer says

    March 18, 2011 at 4:16 pm

    Proof that God has a plan. Unanswered prayers.

  8. Karen Peterson says

    March 18, 2011 at 4:17 pm

    It’s so true. Sometimes the worst case scenario ends up being exactly what we need.

    Stopping in from TRDC

  9. Crystal says

    March 18, 2011 at 4:46 pm

    You are absolutely right…sometimes what is necessary in our path hurts but the results are so much better. It’s just tough to see the big picture when in the moment. Stopping by from RDC.

  10. Liz says

    March 18, 2011 at 5:17 pm

    So true! There are so many points in our lives where we think we were just dealt the worst news, a crushing blow, etc, but then – often years later – we realize it was the best thing to happen!

  11. Lapiz de la Guerra says

    March 18, 2011 at 5:17 pm

    It’s like that country song refrain, “Thank God for unanswered prayers.” Beautiful, sweet, and simple. I really enjoyed this piece and sister, I was right there with you! My only piece of concrit was the part where you’re describing your physical emotions. Some of your descriptors seemed a little redundant and unnecessary. I think you captured that punch in the gut perfectly though!

  12. Sara says

    March 18, 2011 at 5:50 pm

    Well done. You captured the emotions of THE BREAKUP very well. There’s always someone you thought should have been the one that wasn’t, but often they’re the ones that lead to THE ONE.

    Coming her from TRDC:~)

  13. DaisyGal says

    March 18, 2011 at 5:52 pm

    so true isn’t it??? How those early breakups are necessary on the road to our true love? I was going to write about a breakup too, but I kept crying LOL

    I really liked this, I felt all emotions of that heartache. So glad you found your “one”

  14. amygrew says

    March 18, 2011 at 6:06 pm

    The first break ups are hard. I am so glad for all of my break ups now. Nice story!

  15. Kim says

    March 19, 2011 at 12:32 am

    Yes this definitely rang true for some of my past relationship endings. I’m thrilled now that at least they had it in them to break us up, lord knows I didn’t have the strength. Great take on the detour prompt.

  16. Elena @NaynaDub says

    March 19, 2011 at 12:51 am

    Very true! It’s funny how forced detours can make such a great difference in our life.

  17. Elena @NaynaDub says

    March 19, 2011 at 12:51 am

    Very true! It’s funny how forced detours can make such a great difference in our life.

  18. Jenna says

    March 19, 2011 at 1:38 am

    yes ma’am. those necessary detours can sometimes hurt a lot. But so glad your final destination has a happy ending!

  19. Jessica says

    March 19, 2011 at 2:14 am

    Oh I remember those break ups and how it seemed to be the end of the world at the time but you said it perfectly in your last line. You are right where you were meant to be.

  20. CDG @ Move Over Mary Poppins! says

    March 19, 2011 at 3:08 am

    My first “love” was unrequited, but he knew how I felt, and had the decency to let me down easy.

    It broke my heart, or so I thought.

    The best was, in fact, yet to come!

  21. mamatrack.com says

    March 20, 2011 at 12:34 am

    This captured my feelings on prior relationships perfectly. And you really nailed the feelings when it actually happened. Well done!

  22. scrappysue says

    March 20, 2011 at 9:30 pm

    well written elaine! my 19 year old’s just had her heart broken 🙁

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Miss Elaine-ous Me

Hi! I'm Elaine, a transplanted Texan who has spent almost 15 years living in Cajun country. I am re-married to Brandon and we have five kids: together, ages 19, 16, 16, 14 and 14 and crazy but lovely dog, Charlie. I am also an office manager, occasional writer, prayer, and lover of life! Find me on Instagram (misselaine0375) and contact me at misselaineous0375 (at) gmail (dot) com.

Miss Elaine-ous Search

Won’t You Like Me?

Subscribe via email

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Old School Blogging

I was a BlogHer 2016 VOTY Honoree

TODAY.com Parenting Team Parenting Contributor

Miss Elaine-ous Old Stuff

I’m Published Places!

Featured on tentotwenty.com
Good Mother Project

© 2025 · The Miss Elaine-ous Life · Designed by Krizzy Designs

Manage Cookie Consent
We use cookies to optimize our website and our service.
Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Manage options Manage services Manage {vendor_count} vendors Read more about these purposes
Preferences
{title} {title} {title}