Celery,

I just read through this all. Being the hopeless romantic I am, I've been there a few too many times. It's nice you had a chance to apologize and resolve some feelings for both of you. You will move on. Eventually. Will you stop holding a place for her in your heart? No. Will the regret go away? Maybe not, but it gets better with time. As my mom told me, it's amazing our capacity for love- it can always grow to include new people. I think we love different people in different ways, as much as I used to be a 'true love' disciple. The person you end up with depends on willingness to commit to act lovingly to them forever. That could be a different person at a different time in your life if you and she were both ready then. But you weren't. And that's okay. You will find someone's who's ready with you and be a stronger partner to her from this experience.

MO