This isn't my story, but that of a really good friend.

Basically, my friend (let's call her Tiffany) split up with the Love of Her Life three years ago. She was absolutely devasted but somehow managed to hang on to her dignity; she realised that if he did not want to be with her then all she could do was to let him walk.

Eventually, six months after the break-up he contacted her she agreed to 'be friends'. But he'd met another woman and although Tiffany was getting over him, it hurt like hell. They remained in occasional contact, but Tiffany concentrated on building her own own life and grew to accept that they were nothing more than 'just friends'. She still of course thought of him occasionally but had moved on.

Anyway, several months ago they came into contact again, initially just as friends, then little by little romanced blossomed again :-)
He has told her that he loves her - in fact, he probably even loved her the first time round but they both had a lot of complicated things going on and maybe the time just wasn't right.

Tiffany has said herself that the first time round she was probably too young, too naive - and he simply wasn't ready.

I guess the moral of this story is - if he wants to go, you have to let him, and if he does come back you really know that it was meant to be :-)