I worked at this restaurant, and for months I had a crush on this customer, and it was obvious he was attracted to me as well. Then, one day, he stopped coming, and when he returned a few months later, I decided that it was now or never because I was leaving to study abroad. So I gave him my number, and from there we began communicating, and things got real deep real fast. He was a French intellectual, a few years older than me, and he was everything I ever wanted in a man. I was heartbroken that I had to leave so suddenly after finally getting to know him, but after I got off the plane I texted him: “Hey, so I know you probably can’t respond to this, but if you have WhatsApp or Snapchat I was wondering if you wanted to talk while I’m abroad?” And he didn’t respond.

I waited and waited and finally, a month later, he said: “I did receive your text message and I do have WhatsApp. I would be glad to get some news of you from time to time or communicate with you. But as you are going to be far away this year, I don’t think it’s a good thing for you that we get too attached to each other. I hope that you enjoy your trip, and don’t hesitate to send me pictures or anecdotes from your stay there.” He also said it had taken him a bit to respond to the text because he was home dealing with family stuff.

I was upset, because I knew he’d gotten my initial text and I felt used, so I responded with: “It’s OK, I’ve moved on. Thank you, though.” But I feel like that was a mistake. Is there any way to salvage this, or at least find a way to reconnect just to talk? I don’t know what to do, whether or not it’s right to reopen the issue.

– Wanting to Reconnect