But accidentally, you're going to and she's going to hurt you too. It's sadly part of the package, which I'm sure you know! You're not going to get it right. Nope. Forget that. You're going to screw up small bits of it, big bits of it, who knows. You will. She will.
Surely if she accidentally hurt you, you would forgive her. So you must respect her to have the power to do the same?
IMO forgiveness is the most important lesson, maybe the only real lesson (which I'm shocking at learning) and a relationship teaches that in spades.
A relationship does not teach perfection or being bullet-proof. If you can do a relationship without hurt, please come and tell me. I'll write it all down and sell it for millions.
If you are not in the place to have a relationship, there is nothing wrong with not having one and doing your own thing. Clearly what you did 3 years ago was incredibly mature.
I apologise if I'm droning on. Whoever she is, I think she's lucky to have such a caring person in her life.
No need to apologise, that was well said. Great advice and very astute.
The OP should take note.....