I regret not marrying my ex girlfriend

I wanted to share this story from Raymond, who is struggling with his emotions regarding an ex girlfriend:

"This woman and I first met when she was 16 and I was 21. Now she is 41 and of course I am 46. We were lovers from an early age but we lost touch when she went overseas to England to live. We got back in touch in our mid -twenties and I even pursued her to Europe where we spent an idyllic 2 months in a romantic haze. I asked her to marry me and she said 'Yes' eagerly and we came back to New Zealand together. However, it became apparent to me that she and I were not matched for the day-to-day grind of marriage. I told her I couldn't be both true to her and marry her as well. Yes, it was heartbreaking.

Strangely we kept in touch and she even asked my advice about an American she met, bedded and then married. He is her husband to this day. However, when I ask about him, she speaks a little bitterly and I fear there is a deep disappointment with him. There is no romance to this woman's heart whereas I am a solid idealist. She was my goddess but not my Goddess.

And here the two of us are, 26 years later still able to talk heart to heart in a way she can't with the man she has 2 children with. She knows my penchant for Asian women and I find it amazing myself that she is the one Western woman for whom I feel anything physical or emotional. Oh yes, I ache for her sometimes but she is a married woman and a physical relationship now could upset the delicate balance she has with her domestic situation. We both know we have special feelings for each other but we must remember to act responsibly for her children's sake."