26-year-old man flies across country to be with woman he met on vacation in Italy, buys her gifts, and intends to introduce her to his family, all to ghost her a few days later: 'It felt like a literal fairytale and suspiciously perfect'

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Emma Saven
Jul 3, 2025 8:00 PM EDT

When a man you just met gets on a plane to meet you halfway across the world, we've gathered one of two thoughts about him: Either this man is a hopeless romantic with no time to waste, or an absolutely impulsive psychopath…not that the two are largely different. 

However, when someone prefers a gesture of this magnitude after such a short time, it is natural to think that this is it, the happy ending. He has found the one and is already ring shopping with the baby names circling at the back of his head (we're thinking 'Romeo'). He has not only gone on this trip to be with you, but is already planning for you to come to Italy and meet his Big Fat Italian Family…

And then suddenly, without a warning in sight, you're left g..g..gghosted (Cue tear dripping down face). 

How could this be, after everything he'd promised you? Well, our darling girl, we hate to tell you this, but instead of naming your son Romeo, your man has stolen the title for himself. However, instead of being there with you until the very end… he has run off to find his next Juliet. Ouch…

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  • It was every girl's fairytale, until it wasn't…

    This story does not have a happy ending, but rather a woman left utterly confused, finding herself replaying their whole ocean-defining relationship in her head. If it was only a summer fling, why would he be planning their future together? Where's the logic, or was this all part of his plan beforehand?

     Read the story below to find out more details about this crumbling castle. 

  • 01
    "Each time I tried to reach out, he had an excuse and made me feel like I am pressuring him to talk to me or that I don't understand his lifestyle"
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    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 02

    AITA for expecting more communication from the guy(M26) who flew across countries to see me(F26)?

    Back in March, I was out with a friend at a bar when two Italian guys doing a pub crawl literally bumped into us on the street. It was completely random but we ended up talking all night, vibed insanely well, and stayed up till
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  • 03
    morning together. The next day, one of the guys (let's call him Luca) asked to hang out again. We did and again, we stayed up all night talking and getting close.
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  • 04
    On Sunday, he said he was free. I said "okay" casually and he ended up asking what I was doing and we met again. He stayed over at my place that night. We watched
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    Office (he picked the episode where Jim and Pam get married ) and The next morning I went to work, he returned to his hotel. But we
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    kept texting. He went back to Italy on Tuesday, said he was really sad. to leave and wished we had more time together. Fast forward: that same week he
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    said "I need to see you again" and booked a flight to my country. He stayed with me for a week. Brought me a diamond necklace and a limited edition moka pot. It felt like
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  • 08
    a literal fairytale and suspiciously perfect, honestly. He kept saying how special I was and how he never does this kind of thing.
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  • 09
    When he returned to Italy, we still texted but over time, he became slower to respond. I brought it up, like "I miss when we talked more," and he said, "Of course I always have time for you." It felt reassuring at the time so I didn't ask more.
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  • 10
    In June, I went on a diving trip and we didn't talk much while I wa there. But the day before I returned home, he texted saying "I can't wait to see you in August." We had
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    already planned for me to visit him in Italy in August. I was even handling the visa process (and it's really not that easy) etc. just to make it happen.
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    He made full daily plans for my trip to Italy. He told me how excited he was for me to meet his dad and said I should stay at his place, and that he was redecorating and
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    painting the walls and buying furniture just so I'd be comfortable there. Sounds romantic, right? Well, I got back home after my trip
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    Cheezburger Image 10524303616
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    but I was exhausted, sick, and emotionally drained and I reached out to him to talk because I was in need of emotional support. He said he was "busy" when I texted him
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    and wanted to talk. Which is fine because I understand he has things to take care of in his life, except he stayed busy for the next four days with little to no communication.
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  • 17
    Each time I tried to reach out, he had an excuse and made me feel like I am pressuring him to talk to me or that I don't understand his lifestyle.
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  • 18
    On Friday he said he would text me later that night but he hasn't texted me anything. So now I'm wondering AITA for feeling hurt and confused and expecting more?
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  • 19
    I went through all this visa stuff, planned a whole trip around seeing him, emotionally invested myself in this whole thing and suddenly I feel like a side character in his life. Am I overreacting? Or was this always
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    just a fling to him, and I was stupid for thinking it was more? Should I try texting him more or give him space?
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  • 21
    Brief-Wrap-403 Definitely NTA. Communication is key in any relationship -- and it sounds like he's keeping you in the dark. Remember,
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    you're the main character of your own story, not a side one in his. Stand up for yourself and your emotional needs!
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  • 23
    itsmeclair NTA at all. it's easy to be charming for a week. It's consistency after that which matters most.
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  • 24
    Cute Travel770 NTA. Girl, you're not asking for the moon, just basic communication from a dude who literally flew across countries
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    to see you. If he can make time for decorating, he can make time for you. Don't feel bad for wanting clarity.
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Tags

long distance boyfriend couple drama Italy long distance relationship happy couple airport relationship-drama summer fling girlfriend couples Travel relationship drama summer vacation flying
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