Hi Joe,

You could make One Big Grand Last Gesture. Say, “I have a ring waiting for you. You ARE the love of my life! What is Eternal can never be destroyed by the mere temporary. I was young, drunk (add that maybe!!!) and stupid. If I don’t hear from you in (X) amount of days I will move on and wish you all the love, joy and success in the world. Thank you for the best years of my life. If you choose me I promise to give you 50 of the best years of yours.”

If she ignores or it’s a “No”? Then know that you have done everything you can after The Mistake. Then, five or ten years later, you can come back older, wiser, possibly richer, possibly even better looking, with tons of charisma and character, and blame it on Stupidity and Youth. Once again, she is the One that Matters, the One Soulmate.

Meanwhile, honor all the new women in your life as new Chapters. You haven’t left the Overarching Storyline of your Soul Mate, but you are allowed to have other Chapters, Scenes, and even Part 2 of the story.