It’s been weeks, maybe months, maybe even years. The pain has faded, but not completely. The memories don’t sting like they used to, yet there’s still a lingering ache. And then, your heart flutters out of nowhere—maybe it’s a song, a scent, or even just the way someone else laughs.
Not in fear. Not in anger. But in that same soft way it did when you first fell for him.
And you’re left wondering: Why? Why does my heart still react to someone who hurt me so profoundly?
Love Doesn’t Have an Off-Switch
If only feelings worked logically. If only we could flip a switch and shut off all the emotions tied to someone who let us down. But love doesn’t operate on convenience. The heart remembers what once felt safe, what once felt like home. Even if that home is now nothing more than a pile of rubble, there was a time when it was your sanctuary.
Your Brain Is Wired for Connection
Science has something to say about this, too. Love and heartbreak activate the same parts of the brain as addiction. When we’ve deeply bonded with someone, our brain doesn’t just let go because we want it to. The neural pathways take time to rewire, to unlearn what once felt so familiar. So, when a memory resurfaces or you cross paths with him, your brain might still send out those little signals of longing—even if you know better.
You Miss Who You Thought He Was
Sometimes, the flutter isn’t for who he is now but for who you believed he was. The person who made you laugh, made you feel beautiful, and once made promises of forever. It’s hard to separate the reality from the dream. And maybe that flutter is mourning—not for him, but for the love you thought you had.
Healing Isn’t Linear
Just because your heart skips a beat doesn’t mean you’re back at square one. It doesn’t mean you aren’t healing. Sometimes, healing looks like acknowledging the love was real, even if it ended painfully. It’s okay to feel something. It’s OK to have moments of nostalgia, longing, and confusion. It’s just a part of the process.
So, What Do You Do With These Feelings?
Instead of shaming yourself for still feeling something, be gentle with yourself. Accept that emotions are complex. But also remind yourself why things ended. Why you had to walk away—or why he did. The flutters don’t mean you should run back. They don’t mean he deserves another chance. They simply mean you’re human.
And the good news? One day, your heart will flutter again. But this time, for someone who holds it carefully, who protects it rather than breaks it. And when that happens, you’ll realize that this new, safe, and steady kind of flutter is the one you were always meant to feel.
💔➡️❤️ Healing takes time, but you’re getting there.