Brayden

Your ex is still stalking you . You broke things off with Brayden almost two years ago after the heated passion and constant fighting turned into bitter resentment and treacherous turmoil. Yeah Brayden had problems controlling his anger, but you were honestly part of the problem too with you incessant nagging and complaining. Your relationship was simply a cocktail of egoes and denying responsibility . So you left, but you didn't make the decision on your own. Your sister convinced you. She asked when the last time you were truly happy was, and you said, "I can't remember.... probably before I met Brayden" . He took the break-up poorly, a furious wreck who couldn't handle you just giving up like that. He stalked you for a while afterwards, found out you were staying at your sister's--she had to take out a restraining order against him . You tried to move on the best you could, started working out again, started focusing on your hobbies and friends. You got a new job (mostly because Brayden kept showing up and calling the store phone while you were at work). You even tried dating again, but Plenty Of Fish is a cesspool full of chum . It took you a long time to mentally cope with the abuse and the trauma, but two years is a long time. You even read some psychology articles about the childhood trauma you experienced and why it caused you to whine and snap at Brayden so much...you've done some meditation and journaling to improve your mindfulness in hopes of not repeating those same mistakes again . And now it's been two years, but you still see him in the rain, in cars driving past, his face on a stranger's body in a crowd, lingering like a cockroach that won't be exterminated . Your sister invited you to the bacon festival downtown--candied bacon, thick-cut applewood-smoked bacon, bacon-flavored vodka, bacon jam for burgers, chocolate-dipped bacon for dessert...and Brayden bacon--shit! . Brayden is also attending the bacon festival and isn't happy to see you