Good for you! I don't think there is anything much to add to what you've figured out yourself from that last contact. In short....she wants to be heard. She doesn't want to discuss R (made that clear).
Trying to act happy is hard and feels fake when a M is in trouble. Don't think about it as acting "happy", but think of it as outshining whatever opposes the M. She has been dreading to be around you b/c she knew she wouldn't be able to escape you bringing up the stitch at some point. So.....you've got to practice being upbeat and showing a positive personality. It's about the hardest thing to do but it is a form of fighting for your M. So keep that thought when you feel yourself going down. You have to fight......and you do it by putting your best foot forward. I'll bet that is what attracted her the first time you dated her!
It is not about what you feel should work in your M. It is about doing the work that gets the right results. Do what works!
