It appears, clinically, that I always exited during the "devaluing," stage. Looks like I was super lucky. But oh, my goodness, does this trigger the memory of one girl in particular.

Drop-dead-gorgeous. Probably still the best looking girl I've ever met. I was on to her early, and had just moved on from a serious relationship, so I was in the perfect place of not being hard-up and too exhausted to engage what I knew was Headache City. Otherwise, she might have gotten me. I watched her destroy a dude after that, and it's funny, because I remember being taken off-guard when I bumped into her in the library and she was very warm and flirty. it had been months, and she had been quite infuriated when I dusted her off. I knew she was currently with this dude, and could see on his face that he hated his life.

I literally said, "Why are you so friendly, shouldn't you be out torturing [dude's name]?" She laughed and tried to keep flirting. I remember thinking, "What was that about?" Now I realize, she was scouting for a new supply. She found it. She's married, and actually has a huge social media presence. I never would have known that until my wife showed me one of her posts and said, "Didn't you date her?" I almost fell off the bed. Couldn't believe it, but after your comments, it makes a TON of sense. DODGED. A. BULLET.