The Date That Ended It All

I wish this was a funny story. I wish it was about the time I went on a date with a boy who offered to take me to Chipotle but threw a hissy fit when I didn't offer to pay. Even though he had paid for our last three dates. Not bad, but kind of funny. I wish I could write about the time I got my first migraine on a dinner date and my eyes wouldn't stop watering up. Like for hours, they were just running and I had a huge migraine. It was awful, but quite hilarious. My worst date story takes the cake over these chumps.

It's a sad one, so be prepared.

My boyfriend and I had been dating for three years and eight months. We were in a rocky place, on the verge of a breakup. However, this was my high school sweetheart and he convinced me he wanted to make it work. I had moved away for school, so we decided we would really work on the relationship over winter break. I come back home and he had written this letter explaining how much I mean to him and how he really wanted to make us work. However, we were on a sinking ship, barely keeping our heads above water. Not even the holiday magic could save us at this point. I knew in my heart that it was over and we were going to have to break up. But we already had plans for Christmas and New Years so I decided to wait until after New Years to break things off. I was trying to be courteous to our already set plans. However, life doesn't always go according to plan, does it?

One afternoon he offers to take me to lunch at "our" restaurant. This place was very special to us; we had Prom dinner there with our group of friends, multiple anniversaries, and other occasions. I was hesitant to go because I thought he was going to have some kind of grand romantic gesture to "woo" me. He picked me up to go on our date and seemed a bit nervous. We get to the restaurant, get our favorite lunches with raspberry lemonade (I'm from Texas so it's alright to have lemonade in December), and we sit in a booth closer to the front of the restaurant.

Then, the unexpected happens.

Next thing I know, I'm just crying. Sitting in this restaurant, trying to not to cry too loud, but having a hard time holding it back. Oh, why am I crying? Well my high school sweetheart was breaking up with me in "our" restaurant. Right then and there. Two days before New Year's Eve.

#MyWorstDateEVER

I was so shocked! I know I know, I was going to break up with him. BUT I had no idea he was going to take the gun and pull the trigger. AND two days before NYE?! As I'm sitting there, heart racing, tears streaming down my face, he is explaining to me that he doesn't want to hurt me anymore. He knew he had to do it, for the both of us. So you could say it was mutual, but nonetheless shocking. Also, he said I was still invited to his NYE party (LOL). After I politely declined, he began to tear up. So now we are both crying in this place that held so many beautiful memories for us. Needless to say, I haven't been back to that restaurant since. OH, I almost forgot the best part... he had to drive me home after that. It was awful (more awful than the Chipotle whiner and huge migraine date combined).

When I look back on this experience, 4 years later, I understand he was trying to be thoughtful and courteous, just like me. He didn't mean to ruin my favorite restaurant. He wasn't trying to break my heart with a single lunch. But he did both, and in "our" restaurant of all places. Life is ironic, isn't it?

Give me the weirdos, the loud chewers, the awkward conversationalists. Just don't break up with me in a restaurant, please. No matter where my dating life takes me, this fatal lunch date, the one that ended it all, will always take the cake. First love. First heartbreak. First time crying in a restaurant. "Our" restaurant. All rolled into...

#MyWorstDate