Breakups are tough, even when you know they're for the best.

I'd been trying to keep myself together after splitting up with my boyfriend of two and a half years.

I don't really want to get into it. It wasn't messy or dramatic. We just

weren't right for each other anymore, but that didn't make it any easier. Some days, it felt

like everything reminded me of him. I'd been forcing myself to stick to no contact, telling

myself that it was the healthiest way for both of us to move on. It was hard though, really hard.

One of the things I missed most about us was playing pool together. It was our thing. I'm a pretty decent player,

definitely better than average, but my ex, he was incredible on his good days. He could

pull off trick shots like it was nothing. One rail, two rail banks, kicks, combinations.

I'm pretty sure he was even learning a standard mass.

We each had pool tables at home, but obviously we're young, and staying inside every night

wasn't exactly ideal.

When we did go out, we always made sure that wherever we were going, usually a bar, had some pool tables.

We hated crowded bars with long waits for tables and screaming patrons, though, so the places

we went were quieter, usually attracting an older crowd. Dive bars with old, scuffed tables and sticky

floors were our sweet spot. Obviously, you can't expect to find a regulation

table and pristine condition at any bar, but the dive bars were definitely a better shout

than rowdy college bars. We were usually the youngest people there, but we didn't care. At

that point in our relationship, we had grown somewhat bored of the typical college,

let's get plastered every night mentality. Plus, even though I'm bored of the typical college, let's get plastered

every night mentality. Plus, even though I'm kind of shy, my ex was pretty charismatic and

would get along with anyone. Us not being total newbies that pool didn't hurt either. A few

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