I dated someone during my MBA. We sure went through our ups and downs but I really liked her. Before the relationship began we had decided to part ways when we graduate. But both of us grew closer. I always wondered if she was the one for me but never had this conversation with her.
I also did not do the right thing, which was because I thought this was going to end, every time something major happened, like a fight where she would ask me for more of my time and me saying I also want to spend time with my friends, I used to ask to breakup. Also once when I was really drunk, I could not spend the diwali party with her, to which she was upset but it was I again who told let's break up anyway I disappoint you a lot.
The reason we thought we could not end up together was because she didn't want kids and I did. Also I want to settle down in the next 3 years but she wanted to when she is 30. Even if we decided to choose a middle ground when she is 28, it would have been like a sword hanging over her head, which is not what I wanted to do to her.
I just feel shitty for not handling things properly and hurting her because she is very sweet and genuinely a very very nice person at heart which is what made me contemplate if she was the one.
I know I made a lot of mistakes and it is eating me up from within that I hurt her.
Tldr: I dated someone during my MBA knowing we’d likely break up after graduation, but we got emotionally close. Because I believed it wouldn’t last, I handled conflicts poorly and often suggested breaking up, which hurt her. We also had real long-term incompatibilities (kids and timelines). Now it’s over, and I feel guilty for how I treated someone I genuinely cared about.