Relationships are all about communication, but let’s face it, that’s often easier said than done. The result is that in many, failed relationships, there are a decent amount of things that ended up left unsaid. 

Someone asked people to share “the one thing you never told your ex?” and netizens spilled their guts. From heartbreaking revelations to funny tit-bits, get comfortable as you scroll through, upvote your favorites and be sure to share your own thoughts and experiences in the comments section below. 

#1

The heartfelt letter she wrote to her dying bff was returned bc she put the wrong address. He passed away while the letter was en-route back to her. I threw it in the trash.

Image credits: sacris5

#2

That her passion and goals for her writing career did not match her talent and dedication in actually trying to achieve them.

Image credits: Gullible_Criticism39

#3

I know she faked an "emergency" phone call and left my apartment in a hurry one night because she had sh*rted herself. Unbeknownst to her there was some trace evidence left where she was sitting on the couch. I cleaned the spot, flipped the cushion, and I never let on that I knew what had really happened.

Image credits: ForayIntoFillyloo

It can be very hard to tell a person a hard truth, even, in fact particulate, if you love them. The truth hurts is an old adage for a reason and most of us don’t actually want to hurt the people who are important to us. It’s even worse when one is dealing with something that happened between them and an ex or really any important figure from the past. 

While, in the moment, it might be easier to stay silent, psychologists believe that it still helps with closure. After all, the folks in this article still felt the need to share the words left unsaid with someone, even if it was random people on the internet. 

#4

That he was terrible in bed ??‍♀️ and after he went to bed, I would have to finish myself.

Image credits: Fantastic_Fix5259

#5

He would make mashups/ DJ mixes and play his own music in the car. And they were f****n TRASH.

Image credits: got2bkittenme

#6

That I know damn well she cheated on me.

Edit to add: I never told her because it would have benefited no one. As a result, we had an amicable divorce.

Image credits: Primary_Difficulty19

Let’s face it, in many cases, it is best to discuss and divulge things early to not let them build up for later. Fortunately, many of the examples are a tad more lighthearted. It seems unlikely that someone is truly dying to tell their ex that, actually, they simply let them win at every board game. 

#7

I exposed her for stealing at work. Yahtzeeee.

Was stealing tips from a tip pool. So from all her coworkers.

Image credits: DickusElephantiasis

#8

His apartment was an absolute horror show. Like I don’t know how he put up with how filthy, cluttered and depressing it was, and I honestly felt embarrassed for him.

Image credits: _yoshimi_

#9

How bad his cooking really was. The best part about the very unpleasant break-up was that I no longer had to eat his food.

Image credits: InbhirNis

After all, it’s no surprise that most gags in your average sitcom, inevitably, come from some characters miscommunicating or leaving something out. It’s a pretty common human experience at this point. So like with many things in life, it’s important to not beat yourself up too much and just use your best judgment. 

#10

The day I left was the best day of my life. Not the wedding, not when the kiddo finished kindergarten or high school. When I finally had enough and realized what was happening was abuse and it happens to men, too.

Image credits: Expensive_Rhubarb_87

#11

Oooooh had to hop on the alt account for this one! When I was 22, I had a baby with my ex and we gave them up for adoption. I should have gotten an abortion, but I got scared so I ended up carrying to full term and letting a great family adopt them. Less than 5 people know about this. It's my biggest skeleton in my closet.

Image credits: upsetdoofus

#12

We should’ve broken up after that first fight 6 weeks in instead of 3 and a half years later. You’re my biggest regret.

Image credits: entsworth

#13

I let her win at card games sometimes. Winner usually chose the movie but I didn’t want her to feel bad by beating her all the time and I wanted to keep playing. I played A LOT of cards in university and could probably beat her 90% of the time.

Image credits: discostud1515

#14

I faked it every time but I didn't want to hurt their feelings.

Image credits: pinkfreud205654

#15

That sometimes, while I was asleep, I'd wake to her petting my hair and telling me that she loved me. She said it in such a loving, quiet voice, it felt almost secret. In those moments, I had never felt so loved. I'd pretend to still be asleep while fading back into it so she wouldn't get embarrassed. We broke up later but I still cherish those moments.

Image credits: red_herring13

#16

I lost my virginity to her. Before we became a “thing” and she was just my friend I would lie to her about the women I slept with. This was in high school, man I still remember that night. Lmao, we ended up getting really serious, that relationship lasted 12 years. She would bring up the girls that I “supposedly” slept with and once in a while she would say that she ended up falling in love with a man wh*re. Lmao I never told her.

Image credits: fmac90

#17

My ex's parents were separated, so we often found ourselves at her mom's place. Her mom, a high-powered CEO in New York, rarely engaged in casual conversation. However, one night, amidst her job stress, she surprised us by joining in for a laid-back evening. Nestled in her fantastic Manhattan loft, we relished the opportunity to escape our sweltering college dorms during the summer. On this particular night, as my ex and I stayed over, her mom seemed a touch envious of our city escapade and decided to join us for a nostalgic early 2000s movie and a nightcap. As the evening unfolded, my ex dozed off, and I couldn't help but notice her mom consuming the lion's share of the wine. She became unusually chatty, delving into personal questions and fixing me with a lingering gaze. When the movie ended, I suggested that i’d probably leave my ex on the couch and that i would probably just take the floor. However, her mom unexpectedly proposed sharing her bedroom. Politely, I declined, and it's a secret I've kept from my ex ever since.

Image credits: foodpoisoningsucks

#18

I bought the ring from a buddy who robbed a jewelry store.

Image credits: Spectacular_One

#19

That he's gay. I remember the party in college where I walked in on him kissing our friend Daniel. We just never talked about it again. And once I announced the divorce, everyone mentioned that he was gay. They thought it was some big secret we were all agreeing not to discuss.

I just wish he'd get on with it and live his life openly now. But I realize there must be tremendous pain keeping him from that. So I'll keep loving him as a friend and family member, raising our daughter as coparents.

I'm happy and remarried. I hope he finds what he needs someday. He's an amazing dad.

Image credits: burntgreens

#20

The real reason I broke up with her was because I caught myself going through her phone on a regular basis. The last time I did it, it hit me like a bag of bricks. I knew it was me and not her. I developed trust issues from past relationships.

I was so in love with her, I didn't feel she deserved to be with someone not in a healthy place.

I tried my hardest to trust her but couldn't. I still haven't gotten past her and it's been 6 years.

That behavior scared me so much, I haven't been in a relationship since and have focused on me. I think I scared myself so badly, I am avoiding relationships out of the fear I'll have the desire to do that again.

Now she's engaged and here I am... On Reddit. Confessing my crazy behavior.

Image credits: JayBringStone

#21

She wanted to improve her own fitness, so she wanted to work out with me. Every time we ran together I would run at half speed, breath heavily and pretend like I was exhausted. It helped her feel encouraged, that she was able to keep up, and that she was improving.

When we’d go out to Asian restaurants she’d insist on using chopsticks. She was terrible, so I always tried to out-do any blunders she made. If she struggled to pick something up, I’d pretend the chopsticks slipped out of my hand, or resort to stabbing food in an exaggerated way. I’m Asian… I’ve been using chopsticks longer than I’ve been using spoons and forks. She’d always gleefully laugh at me and never caught on to the fact that everytime she was done eating my chopstick errors significantly dropped.

Lastly, she loved falling asleep next to me but kicked and spasmed in her sleep. She was a heavy sleeper and I wasn’t so this sleeping arrangement didn’t really work out but she was always so happy to go to sleep and wake up next to me. A lot of times if she kicked me awake I’d sleep on the floor, get up slightly before her alarm, and scoot back next to her like nothing happened so she wouldn’t feel bad.

I got burned by that relationship pretty badly but I have every intention of continuing to do those little things for my future partners. Just waiting for the right person to do them for.

#22

The fourth time she stayed over at my house, she woke up crying in the middle of the night, talking like she was a kid, and saying how her family is at odds, and her dad hates her mom and thinks she’s ugly, but they can’t get a divorce because of Christian values. I just calmed her down and held her until she fell asleep. She suffered from Dissociative Identity Disorder and stress-caused episodes, so I don’t think she remembers it happening. I didn’t bring it up the next morning or ever in the three years we were together; not even during our worst fights.

#23

This was a long-distance relationship. When he was in really bad shape with a chronic pain issue and experiencing s*icidal thoughts, I called his 'best' friend to go spend some time with him and try to cheer him up a little. I don't like this friend at all, and when I contacted him, he acted like going to check on the friend who was desperately bored and isolated because of his illness was a huge hassle he didn't have time for. To his credit, he actually did it. Even though I can't stand this friend, I figure no good could come from my then-boyfriend hearing that his 'best' friend balked at helping him when he was at his lowest.

#24

Everyone makes fun of him behind his back. Literally, everyone, even his friends.

#25

I know that wasn’t the dog’s fart.

#26

This was an ex like 3 exes ago.

That I really only let it turn into a relationship out of curiosity and that every day for the last year of our relationship I kept thinking, "is today the day I'm going to break up the relationship?" because I was truly unhappy with her, BUT every time I wanted to break things off something bad kept happening in her personal life and I didn't want to pile on the suckiness of life.

Seriously, gents. Try not to let a fling turn into a full blown relationship. I learned through relationships after THAT one that I really could have gone my entire life without being with her and it would have actually made my life better.

#27

That I broke up with her because she was just… too dumb.

#28

Just how bad her little sister and sister's friend flirted and teased that summer I helped out at the farm.

#29

While she was cheating on me, I was doing the same in response.

Very healthy relationship.

#30

She was a terrible kisser.

#31

That the reason I broke up with her was because I cheated on her with my wife.

As in like...I had a girlfriend, I went camping (girlfriend did not come with us) . Met this girl I literally fell in love with within 5 minutes of meeting her. And hooked up with her that night. When I got back home I broke up with my Gf and said that we weren't going to work out and that I felt as if we have been growing apart for months.
A lot of people told me I should have told her the truth...but..why? I was already hurting her by breaking up, I didn't see the reason to tell her I cheated on her and hurt her twice in 1 go.

#32

That his dog was seeking him out in her dying moments.

He had rescued a little girl from a dog fighting puppy mill, and raised her by himself until we met. I instantly loved her and for a year into our relationship I got to watch the two of them build trust and train and play everyday. She was his whole life as when he saved her, he had no one else regarding family or friends, in a very depressed state.

Around our 1 year anniversary she got sick. I woke up one day with a very bad feeling, only to look around and find her sitting in a pool of blood and p**s. Without hesitation we took her to the vet non stop and payed for any and every test we could. She was young still, 2 and a half.

They all came back negative, and she was a fully vaccinated dog. One Sunday, after 5 days of fighting with antibiotics and getting her to eat, cleaning up blood and p**s and taking out any savings we both had to pay off doctors, she passed.

They were both a sleep on the couch (we took turns sleeping) and I was dozing off from the exhaustion.

I saw her around 5am wake up, she tried moving around trying to get to her dad but she was too weak and he was too tired. I didn't realize what was happening, why she suddenly wanted to be with him so much.

I sat with her, telling her that it would be okay and the minute the vet was available we would head over for painkillers. We would find what was hurting her and that she wasn't alone. I covered her with a blanket and fell asleep on the floor before I realized it. 9 am same day she had joined the other angels.

To this day, I have some of her ashes and I just keep thinking I should of woken him up, or helped her. For the longest time he blamed himself for not being with her in her final moments.

We never found what killed her, autopsy wasn't an option.

#33

That I only married him because I desperately wanted to be married and have a family.

And that I always thought he was ugly.

#34

You're not funny enough to be a stand up comic, and You're always going to be a barista.

#35

Her parents pissed me the f**k off. Her mom was always complaining about everything, and her dad was a covid conspiracy theory nut case.

#36

That she would make an awful mother and that’s why things ended.

#37

I knew he cheated for about 2 wks prior to the break up. I kept trying to give him chances to come clean on his own. He never did.

Image credits: Particular-Natural12

#38

It sounds harsh, but I would have loved to have talked with my ex about how neither of us really loved the other, but were both in love with the idea of each other, and that really f****d our relationship up, from day 1, and honestly I should have never tried to rely on her to fix my own pre-existing issues. I'm genuinely sorry I put her through that.

Image credits: SarahphimArt

#39

I wish I had told her how messed up her family dynamic was, how oppressed she was from that. I wish I had told her that life was more than academia and titles. And that I could’ve been more, but I was always going to be an outlier in her families eyes.

Image credits: BritGuyInAmerica

#40

That his breath stank , (I had to remind him daily to brush his teeth).

Image credits: Successful-Score4493

#41

That I accidentally dropped his Ducati on its side. Obviously I couldn’t pick it up, I was panicking and called a neighbor for help and both of us were able to pick it up. Thankfully nothing happened to the motorcycle. No scratches or anything.. but if my ex knew, he’d have a fit lmao.

Image credits: Bingbingdaddy

#42

She was the cataclyst for me realising it was a phase after all.

Image credits: persimmonslices

#43

Several things to each one of them

1- Im sorry that I fumbled breaking up with you but I needed a more active gf than just watching movies endlessly

2- i really wanted to spend my life with you but your decision that “you wanted to open our relationship” ended all attraction to you at that exact moment. I should have just walked away right there than demand it ‘stay closed’ and drag out the inevitable a few more months. You ended up leaving me anyways so w/e

3- your anger is why everyone youve dated dumped you, and why im dumping you too. Its not that we “are afraid of a smart woman” its you become petty and mean when you dont get your way. (Shes still single to this day)

4- i knew you cheated but you thought you were too slick.

Image credits: blackmobius

#44

That her lady garden smelt really bad.

#45

Her chili sucked.

Image credits: StandOutLikeDogBalls

#46

That I knew the last time she tried to talk me into having sex, she was trying to pin her pregnancy from her trip to Florida on me.

#47

That his dad revenge cheated on his mom after she had a relationship with another man while they were separated.
She swore me to silence after telling me once night but had to tell someone because her husband wouldn’t stop holding the fact that “she cheated on him” over her head for every argument.

#48

She had a lovebird. it managed to get out the door, we spent weeks walking the neighbour's hood, putting up posters and scouring lost and found ads. unfortunately, within an a few hours of the first round of lost posters being distributed, I got a call (on her phone, she was in shower) from a woman who witnessed poor Lovebird being predated by crows. I went out to 'buy cigarettes', but actually went to the area where this was observed. I found a lot of little blue feathers. she was already heartbroken at the loss. I felt this news, this soon into the search would have crushed her.

Image credits: Foxwasahero

#49

That it isn’t normal for him (18) and his sister (23) to shower together on a regular basis…. And no it was not to preserve water because they were loaded af.

Image credits: julesthereader

#50

That her family is and will continue to ruin her life. I have never met more narcissistic and pretentious, self diagnosing and delusional people in my entire life. I hope she finds the exit somehow, even tho she already had one.

#51

That as much as I loved her, her lack of morals and social values meant we never had a future together. I could not imagine raising children with someone like her.

#52

He was ugly af and I only fell for him through his personality (when he was sober) and I was so relieved I didn’t have to fake enjoy sleeping with him after we broke up.

#53

You had a lesbian haircut, and you were probably the most probably most boring person I ever met.

#54

That while it was fantastic that she was adventurous and pretty much down anytime, anyplace, for anything--and that was a major turn on...

...she was a dead fish when it came down to the actual deed.

It was like waiting an hour for fireworks and... getting a Snap Dragon.

#55

Ex #2: I wasn’t attracted to her because of her weight. I loved her as a person (turns out I was wrong to, oops) but I just don’t find big attractive.

Ex #1: I wasn’t attracted to her because of her BO. I tried everything to get her to wash, but she’d only take baths and just soak, and sometimes wash her hair.

#56

Just because you know interesting people, that doesn’t make you interesting.

#57

That she was a major catalyst in me making my life better. You we were my rock bottom. You made my life hell trying to help you and “fix” you.

It’s wild I spent the whole relationship terrified you’d out grow me, turns out I outgrew you and I am so happy. Happiest I’ve ever been. Go f**k yourslef.

#58

He made me reallyyyy uncomfortable with how often he "accidentally" s**t himself.
Accidents are accidents but there's a point where it's no longer an accident.

#59

How much she really broke me down. Took me years to get my mental back on track.

#60

Though he had aspirations of being a chef, his cooking was mediocre at best.

Also, that he lost his Mexican card when he tried to fix my couch with a fork....a FORK. (And before y'all come for me, I'm very much a Latina).

#61

That I wish I've never met her.

#62

I’m sorry for the way I treated her. I didn’t do anything like cheat on her or abuse her in anyway or anything, but my actions, in retrospect was less than fair to her.

#63

We broke it off on good terms, but I wish I could’ve told him how much of a narcissist and an a*****e he was to me. He drunkenly asked me when I stopped loving him one night after we broke up… I stopped loving you 6 months into our relationship and stayed for 3 years bc I couldn’t afford to leave and be on my own and I became so used to the abuse that it was just normal at that point. I stopped loving you the first time you screamed “f**k you” into my face. You made so many excuses for your behavior and half of those were just blaming me when I did nothing wrong. You were explosive and short-tempered but everything was still my fault. You couldn’t care less about the things I wanted to do or the interests that I had, just you you you you you. He even left me with the dog I got him (whom I love very much and he is spoiled). Every weekend he’d be gone doing the things that I wish I could be doing with him, but I wasn’t invited or couldn’t afford it. AND THE LIES. I’d be surprised if he was ever telling me the truth. Deceit was the boys middle name, but I saw through it. Even when you didn’t think I did. I did.

I wish I could’ve said all of that but I left off on good terms because i’m wayyyyy too nice of a person. You live and you learn I guess. What a joke.

Thanks for the vent haha.

#64

I hate that blue polo shirt so much.

#65

That he sucked at his major.

#66

He will try to find the worst in anyone he loves bc he can’t accept love.

#67

That I f****d his friend before we ever met.

#68

That I have never let anyone get that close emotionally, before or since. We stayed friends afterwards, and I wouldn't have gotten back together if she wanted to, but to me we had something special for a while.

#69

I’m like 90 percent certain I hit a baby duckling when it was crossing the highway with its family. I saw them too late and avoided most of them but I think I clipped the last one in the row. She was already so upset at them being on the road that I didn’t have the heart to tell her.

#70

Her sister was better... (they knew I dated them both).

#71

That I smoked weed when he wasn’t around. This was the late 90s and he was so anti-d**g he would have been horrified.

#72

That even two years after the breakup I'm still harboring a ton of anger towards them and their ex that they emotionally cheated on me with and got nudes from. That every time we hangout I successfully compartmentalize the anger and put it out of mind, but that by no means means that I've forgiven my ex. That I get angry every time they mention their old ex to me.

#73

I hired a divorce lawyer the day after she took the kids from daycare and ran off to her moms.
I was so stressed that I lost 5 lbs in 2 days due to stress from this. I convinced her to come back and just ‘make it work’ for The kids sake. But I knew I could never trust her again. I stashed $, gift cards, kids clothes & supplies at work and my folks house in case I needed to get the kids and get out fast. That was 3 years before the actual divorce. I regret nothing but hanging on so long. Now happily remarried w full custody 8 years now. FU ex wife.

#74

That she's fat.

#75

My mental health started suffering and heavily affecting me on the lead up to things ending.
That the following months where he strung me along with the hopes of getting back together were nothing but cruel.

The physical pain from crying so hard over him and my heart breaking every time I thought I had f****d up and wasn’t doing enough, not being able to bring it up to him or talk things over because he takes everything personally and shuts down emotionally.

I wish him nothing but the best and I’m truly happy for him and his new relationship, but will never get over how he made me feel and f****d me over to just throw it away like it was nothing.

#76

Your dad was a horrible dad.

#77

That I felt the most at peace with him.