In the immortal words of Neil Sedaka, "Breaking up is hard to do." There's the emotional pain to deal with, of course, that constant throbbing pain in the heart. But there are physical reminders, too. The dirty sock under the bed. The toothbrush in the medicine chest. A nightgown stuffed in a drawer. A jar of anchovies you never would've bought. The dregs of a bottle of Baileys Irish Creme. All evidence that someone has come, and gone. I asked you to tell me some of the things you got stuck with, and here's what you said:

ABBY: "One time, a guy left a pack of cigarettes containing only two or three, and then he called me a week later saying he wanted to come over and get them. I told him I had thrown them out and would do the same to him if he tried to come over."

CEELY: "Over the long, slow, painful breakup, I managed to clean most of his stuff out of my apartment. His sweaters, books, shaving stuff. Some I returned; some I just dumped down the incinerator. The only thing that was left was a bright blue terrycloth bathrobe that I had bought him because it matched his eyes.

I told him I wanted to meet him for breakfast; we had some unfinished business to discuss. We talked a little, and when we were finished, I handed him a shopping bag with the robe inside. He took it without saying a word and left the restaurant. We walked away in opposite directions. I turned around to watch him, and I saw him dump the bag with the robe in a trash basket."

CANDY: "He left me with a pair of cross-country skis, used once, and a pair of hiking boots, never worn. He was very athletic, and I would have done anything to be with him, including stocking up on an assortment of sporting equipment that in my heart I knew I'd never use."

LISA: "A watch set to beep at 8 a.m. for 10 seconds must have fallen out of his pocket into one of the many cracks and crevices of my couch. For days, I sat poised, ready to pounce as soon as it went off. Finally, on the fifth day, I found it."

GRACE: "No man has ever left anything at my apartment. They've all taken: cookies, a beer, the last piece of homemade cake, my favorite books, records ... whatever they've wanted."

SAMANTHA (whose someone is still around): "Jim has an adorable habit of leaving things around my apartment, so I will find them during his absence. Often, he leaves little statues of farm animals. When I get a cup of coffee, open the drapes or open a cupboard, I find a 2-inch-high cow, horse or pig. It makes me think of Jim when I drink my coffee, look out the window or search for the peanut butter."

Of course you love him/her. But if there was one thing you could change about him/her, what would it be? Send your tale, along with your questions, problems and rants to [email protected]. And check out my e-books, "Dear Cheryl: Advice from Tales from the Front" and "I'll Call You. Not."

Photo credit: 12019 at Pixabay