Oldtimers: Return or not..what finally happened?

[forward]

I should clarify: maybe the WAS doesn't go so far as to *state* that they actually want to reconcile.

But there often seems to be a time when they do seem to drop hints, moves towards XLBS, and express regret and go through a process of re-evaluating the past R. Sometimes this is at a point where reality has intruded on the happy OP/WAS couple, or where some other life event has made the WAS realize what the LBS had to offer.

It seems that by that point, the LBS has had it and is not satisified with hints and baby steps and a few expressions of regret. They don't want to throw a bone, or they do and the WAS's response is not enough, and the door is closed.

The WAS doesn't know how to fix the situation, or maybe doesn't have what it takes, and eventually slinks off, sometimes with the OP but it seems just as often without OP.

And it seems that LBSs seem to fare better than the WASs regardless of what happens, perhaps because they are forced to evaluate themselves and their lives.