That’s a brutal emotional whiplash—going from “yes” to “never mind” in a day is already painful, and seeing him with his ex right after makes it clear this wasn’t just cold feet.
What you handled really well, even if it doesn’t feel like it, is your self-respect. You didn’t beg, argue, or let him drag you into excuses. You gave the ring back, you walked away, and when you saw the truth, you didn’t let him rewrite it. That matters more than it might feel right now.
Loving him doesn’t make you weak—it just means your feelings were real. But his actions showed something important: he wasn’t honest, and he wasn’t ready to choose you fully. That’s not a small flaw in a relationship; that’s the foundation cracking.
The hardest part is that your heart is still catching up to what your mind already understands. That gap—between knowing and feeling—is where most of the pain sits.
What you said to him was enough. You don’t need a better ending or a clearer explanation. His behavior already gave you one.
Right now, it’s less about “getting over him” and more about not reopening the door he already closed on you. Because if he comes back—and people in his position often do—it won’t be with clarity, just confusion again.
If you want, I can help you figure out how to move forward without getting pulled back into that cycle.