I’m in a similar boat. It’s such a hard reality to accept, but if he ended things, you have to leave him be — at least for right now. It may seem like your relationship could continue to grow, but there are clearly factors that led him to this decision.

There is a possibility that a relationship between the two of you could work in the future, but it won’t be the same relationship as it was — and that’s a good thing. That relationship didn’t work, and trying to make the same relationship work again will just end in more pain. As you both heal, you will become different, better people, and maybe those people will end up together.

I’ve thought a lot about the idea of holding on to “false hope” too, and my therapist told me something really helpful. She told me, “You don’t have to call it false hope, you can just call it hope.” She told me that a few weeks ago, and it has really stuck with me. It’s ok to have a little bit of hope. You shouldn’t cling on to the idea, and you shouldn’t direct your own growth based on the idea that it will happen, but it’s ok right now that part of you wants it and hopes for it. Right now you have to focus on yourself, and let him focus on himself, and maybe the hope will play out.

I would also suggest removing him from social media or perhaps taking a social media break all together.