Hi...I was directed here by another poster, so I thought I'd come check you guys out! I've read some wonderful advice, kind words, and genuine concern towards other people. It's definitely a place that I'll be hanging around!

I'm going to introduce myself, but
be forewarned; I tend to ramble, so a) I don't know how long this is going to end up, and b) I don't know what I'm going to say; some of it might be a bit TOO much, but I just need to let it OUT...
I've had an experience recently that has made me question both the decency of members of the opposite sex and my own judgment. I've always been my own person; not the type who had the latest XX, or hung with "the crowd"...you know the type. I was fairly comfortable in my own skin and I had a great group of friends, both guys and girls. However, I never had any sort of a relationship; no one ever asked me to a dance, out on a date, out to eat or anything. I was fine with that and didn't sit at home crying my eyes out or anything. I figured that, hey; there's someone out there for everyone and when it happens, it happens.
So I turned 18, 19, 20.......nothing. 23, 24...nothing. This year...26...ding ding ding! We have a winner! This older (33) "guy" (if I can call him that...you'll see...) who works at the university where I attend started talking to me. At first, it was just "Hey, how are you?" but it progressed into him sitting down and we'd chat about movies, interests, etc...normal stuff. I can't tell you exactly when or how things changed, but I became aware that he was interested in me in a way that no guy had ever been before. We made out a number of times

(I know, I know...SO junior high!), and then in late May we became intimate
(my 1st time). Oh, he had all the usual lines that, if I had been more "experienced", I would have recognized..."You have a gorgeous body", "I don't know why you picked me", "When you're with me you'll feel safe"...whatever you can think of, he probably said. I likely don't need to tell you how things went from there; I thought they were going OK, but one day in mid- July...BAM. NO contact whatsoever. I was curious as to why I wasn't hearing from him, but I figured that I would just let things go and maybe he was too busy. A couple of weeks later, I found out through FACEBOOK of all places that he had a new woman, who he was calling his girlfriend and all these cute nicknames...he NEVER called me any of that and didn't like it when I called him anything other than his name.
I've gotten SO MUCH great advice from my friends and from posters on these boards...you know who you are and I am so very grateful

. The thing is, though, that while I realize that I am WAY better off not being associated with this guy, I still see him every day because we are on the same campus. I actually have an on-campus job with an office literally right beside his, and the job involves communicating quite closely with his department. The first couple weeks I was back at school, I ignored him completely. I was angry, sad and afraid that I'd burst into tears if I saw him. He's the kind of person who shows NO emotion whatsoever, and I knew he could care less about the whole situation (or at least appear to, for all intents and purposes). I did start talking to him eventually, and it's like nothing at all ever happened between us. It's just weird, though...I feel really uncomfortable around him because
I don't know what he's thinking. WHY did he do this to me? WHAT did I do? Did I say something wrong? Is there something I can change? Why is he pretending this never happened? It just tears me up sometimes and I feel incredibly sad and discouraged.
Ahhhhh...that felt GOOD! I don't know...maybe I need a book or something...ANYTHING to make me realize that this guy is NO GOOD and that he doesn't deserve space in my head to be occupied by thoughts of him! I am an attractive, smart person who has tons of interests and goals, none of which include him after this stunt he pulled. I see my family and friends with partners who love them and treat them with respect, and that's what I want. Is that too much to ask??? I'm really looking forward to hanging out here and getting away from the negativity that has seemed to be so much a part of my life as of late. Thanks for listening everyone...have a great day!
