After knowing each other for two weeks, he told me he loved me and thought our kids would be gorgeous. I got up and left immediately without saying a word.

—Lo

Aftermath: He called a few times after that, but I think he knew he had crossed the line.

We went bowling on our second date and he hugged me and tried to kiss me after every turn (mine and his). He was constantly trying to touch me, even if it was just reaching out and touching my arm for no reason. I told him I needed space; he told me he thought he was falling for me.

—J

Aftermath: I broke it off the next day and he cried. He still emails me to tell me about how he is doing, even though I haven’t responded in months.

I noticed her eyes looked like that of a reptile. They were dry, and completely red and glazed over, and it appeared as though she had some kind of condition with her tear ducts. It was intensely absurd and I lost all attraction to her.

—Ty

Aftermath: She tried to lose her virginity to me that night but I felt bad that I wasn’t into her. We passed out and didn’t talk again after that. Whoops.

I knew it was over when I woke up and saw him sitting at the table in candle-light smoking a cigarette alone and silent, again. Why be there instead of touching me? Why so distant in that world of darkness and the past? He was so handsome with long brown hair, pale skin, lean body…but so filled with blood and shadows. He told me all he wanted was light and love…but I wondered then if it was true. I remember falling asleep staring at the LED red numbers of the time on the alarm clock: 3:16 a.m.

—Destiny

Aftermath: A few weeks later we parted dramatically. It was like raking knives through my heart, but I knew he was never really mine. Whoever or whatever he loved, it was not me.

After dating my high school boyfriend for almost a year, we both went away to college. I knew it was over when he called me every night to bitch about how much he didn’t like his school and how he couldn’t meet any people. When I suggested he could make friends at social events or by joining organizations, he said he’d rather play video games in his dorm room.

—Ginger

Aftermath: We lasted about one month more, but only because I couldn’t bring myself to break up with him on the phone.