Because you are breaking my heart, I am going to offer a lighter note, and say this reminds me of Mr. Bennet's rather cruel opinion, "Every girl likes to be crossed in love." Unfortunately, I do not think he was entirely wrong.
If I may talk about a fictional character for a moment as if he is real, Mr. Bennet might have seen women about him at some point obsessing to their friends about a gentleman who lost interest. There can be a certain pleasure of drama--and if you have teenage girls, you probably know what I mean. Now I fear I will probably get into trouble for this observation: From I have seen of teenage boys, they handle it differently. Boys who are hurt never seem to enjoy it as much as teenage girls.
Not to say that Darcy is a teenage boy. Also, anyone, man or woman, boy or girl, whose heart has really been broken, does not enjoy the drama. But we who read about it can get more than a little pleasure from it. It's like getting scared at a horror movie where it is safe to scream. Much as my heart is breaking for Darcy thanks to your excellent description, it also helps me safely recall and process moments in my own life that were painful to feel but cannot quite be forgotten. So, thank you for the pain and the pleasure I know will follow.
If I may talk about a fictional character for a moment as if he is real, Mr. Bennet might have seen women about him at some point obsessing to their friends about a gentleman who lost interest. There can be a certain pleasure of drama--and if you have teenage girls, you probably know what I mean. Now I fear I will probably get into trouble for this observation: From I have seen of teenage boys, they handle it differently. Boys who are hurt never seem to enjoy it as much as teenage girls.
Not to say that Darcy is a teenage boy. Also, anyone, man or woman, boy or girl, whose heart has really been broken, does not enjoy the drama. But we who read about it can get more than a little pleasure from it. It's like getting scared at a horror movie where it is safe to scream. Much as my heart is breaking for Darcy thanks to your excellent description, it also helps me safely recall and process moments in my own life that were painful to feel but cannot quite be forgotten. So, thank you for the pain and the pleasure I know will follow.