A reaction to information.
I’m not sure what is more painful. The breakup itself sucks but the aftermath is terrible. There is the inevitable exchanging of stuff. The work that has to be done to remove most traces of their existence from your life. Movies you watched together (although I love movies far too much to have my opinion of them spoiled by an outside event). TV shows that have characters that look incredibly like the unmentioned. You cannot remove your knowledge of them from your memory. For a long time it will be hard to kiss someone else without comparing them to that person. You will not be able to hold hands without noting the obvious difference in the way the hands feel and every time you catch a scent of their laundry detergent, your stomach will knot. For weeks friends will make the extra effort not to mention their name around you and any attempt to broach the topic of discussion is met with harsh words, hysterical tears, or stony silence. For months any happy couple that has the audacity to share a sidewalk or room with you is given stares that if possible would leave them in smoldering piles of ashes. Breathe. It will get better. It is a painful process but the trick is to simply remember that there are very few pleasant ends, ends by their very nature are not supposed to be pleasant. After that it becomes our choice what we decide to remember. You can dwell on the unpleasant aspects, every word said wrong, every mistake ever made, or you could chose to remember the compassion that was shared by two people who loved each other very much but just did not have what it took to hold it together. This way may, at first, seem much to painful but in time it becomes the comfort that allows you to once again let someone into your heart and become a part of your life. Through the pain that comes from the pleasant memories will come a desire to feel that same thing again and it is through that desire that love is possible again.