Heartbroken
Dear Frankie,
Celine was the first dog to say hello to me at the dog park. She walked right up and complimented my collar, saying it matched my beautiful brown eyes. I remember blushing and feeling my heart race.
Every time Celine came to the park, she would find me to talk or play. So, when she turned me down as my date for the Sweetheart’s Dance months later, I was heartbroken.
When Celine noticed I was upset, she told me she liked me as a friend and thought I knew she was dating Rex, a German Shepherd. I told her I hadn’t heard about Rex before and wondered why I had never seen him at the park. She said he worked during the day on a K-9 team at the police station.
When I talked to the other guys about it, some said they thought I might have misunderstood Celine’s behavior because I followed her and watched her a lot.
Why didn’t I see what was going on?
Robin
Dear Robin,
It takes time to tell if someone is just being friendly or flirting. People call it reading between the lines. We’ve all had someone say they want to get together, but then they never make plans or follow up. After a while, we realize their words didn’t mean what we thought.
You liked Celine from the beginning and hoped her attention meant the same. I’m sorry things didn’t work out as you hoped.
Next time someone makes your heart race, try to wait and see how things develop before guessing how they feel. Usually, if someone is interested in you, they’ll make it clear.
Best, Frankie
© 2026 Geneva Woodruff
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