Love bombing is something I've given a lot of thought about lately.
You see, the guy I've been happily blogging about didn't turn out to be the person I thought he was.
As women, we try to make sense of what's happened, did I miss the signs, did he really say those things to me, was it me? Could I have done something differently?
The list is endless.
But this time (for once) I can hold my head high and said it wasn't me; it was him.
I was my most authentic self I think I've ever been around a guy.
I felt comfortable sharing with him; he did the same with me.
Or so I thought.
Recently I had to fly back to Cairns unexpectedly and he was coming with me - had his flight booked (or so I thought).
At the last minute, there was a family emergency and he couldn't come.
And by last minute, I mean 12 hours before we were flying.
During the four days I was home with my family, he wasn't there for me. I expected more, especially because the guy he'd shown me for the first few weeks of dating would have been there for me.
Once I got back to Brisbane, things were still off.
He was preoccupied with family stuff, which I'm now even questioning whether it actually happened or not.
He didn't prioritise me or my needs.
Everything changed with him and I started wondering what had happened.
One minute he's telling me I look cute in a selfie I sent him, the next he's dodging my calls and not responding to my text messages.
I was in a familiar place, once again.
One I thought I was never ever going back to.
And I come back to love bombing. For those who don't know what it is, Google describes it as the action or practice of lavishing someone with attention or affection, especially in order to influence or manipulate them.
Narcissist is also another one that's been floated: a person who has excessive interest in or admiration of themselves.
Love bombing occurs when one person does it to the other.
Thing is, we were both going gung-ho at the same speed. He wasn't further along than me. We both saw each other together for the long-term.
I'm not actually sure I need to label this, to be honest.
He's been a coward, hasn't practiced what he preached, his actions no longer matched his words and it left me wondering where I stood in the relationship.
When you're in the right relationship and with the right person, you will never have to question where you stand.
