“Thanks for coming to get coffee with me today. I wanted to talk to you about something kind of hard, so I’d appreciate it if you just let me talk and get this out.” OK. What’s going on? “Well, recently I’ve been realizing that there are some issues in our relationship, and I think we’ve both been trying to work through them, but it doesn’t seem to be getting any better. I’m not very happy anymore, and I don’t think you are either, and we both deserve to be.” What are you saying? “This is really hard to say. I care about you so much, but I think it’s time for us to break up.” What? OK wait. So you’re saying you’d rather just give up than try to get through it together? “I’ve been trying to do that, we both have. I can tell that hanging on like this isn’t good for either of us and I really need to be honest with you. It’s not your fault and it’s not my fault, but I don’t think we’re right for each other anymore.” I can’t believe you’re doing this. I thought you cared about me. “I do. That’s never going to change. You’re a great person and you deserve to be happy, and that’s why I know we have to do this. It’s best for both of us. Maybe you’ll hate me for saying this, but I don’t want to hurt you.” I’m trying to understand, but I don’t think I can talk to you about this right now. “I get it. It’s OK. I’m going to go, but I just wanted to say that I don’t regret our time together at all. I hope you don’t either. You’ll always be important to me.”