Since I am not currently in a relationship, I will reflect on my most recent relationship. We were together for 3 years and produced memories that will last a lifetime. As the saying goes “All good things must come to an end”. My memory of our relationship will always be a permanent staple in my life. The stage where the relationship ended was the termination stage. We decided to end the relationship to give each other the space we both were seeking.

1. Initiation – We met through a mutual friend at a restaurant on her birthday. I often told her I was the best birthday present she ever received. After a few cocktails, we engaged in deep conversation ranging from the weather to family. She was a breath of fresh air. We immediately “kicked it off”, we discovered we had the same taste in music and both had a passion for sports. Although it was her birthday, I was the one who received the gift.

2. Experimenting – Reflecting on my relationship, I found this stage to the most fun. This is where I was trying to impress her every time we spent time together. I will always acted on my best behavior and tried to think outside of the box to form a good impression. This stage is where the most flowers were sent, where the restaurants were tested and where we really enjoyed each other’s company. It was an adventure every time we met because we never knew what to expect from each other.

3. Intensifying - “Bri” and “Dre” were the nicknames we used for each other. Our favorite cheap wine was Lambrusco, and our favorite weekend getaway was Prague, CZ. We knew what to order for each other when one of us had to use the bathroom at a restaurant. We were officially partners! Passing gas and the burps start to be more than an accidental occurrence. We were starting to become comfortable with each other which poised to be both amazing and dreadful.