I love to see how people don't realize they're being extremely instrumental sometimes. They talk about real love or longing, and as they dive deep into it, you realize they are not talking about appreciating someone else, but about appreciating what they can do for them.
It's amazing to see how many people think of love and partnership this way and how this discourse is enmeshed in our culture. I'm not saying love is everything in a partnership; of course, we have to coordinate financially and build a future with the other person, but that can't be the sole purpose of partnership, right? Imagine having a home or starting a family with someone you don't care that much about.
Also, in this particular story, the woman forgets that he was with her for six years and didn't propose, while with the other woman he proposed within a year. That might have been about timing, but it could also be related to simple attraction or love.
I get it; it's hard to admit, and it stings. And also, we all fall into the trap of romanticising the past every once in a while. The truth is, we never know how things would've turned out. Maybe he would've left her within a year, and they wouldn't be living in that 'dream house' together. Maybe they would've gotten married, and she would've been unhappy. The key is that we can't know, so it's easy to sit and imagine the best-case scenarios we supposedly missed.
Either way, that's in the past now, so what's the use in thinking about it if we can't do anything to change it? Might as well tell ourselves we won't make those 'mistakes' again and build our dream life now!