Breakups are hard; Jamaal Charles is a Denver Bronco

It’s a rare instance in sports when nobody did anything wrong. No one is at fault. Everyone is just a little hurt. Because breakups are hard.

“We need to talk,” you texted her. It wasn’t an easy decision, but you knew that it would be for the best. …You were at least pretty sure that it would be for the best.

It was a difficult conversation. You talked for hours. You did some “negotiating” – reflecting on the terms of your relationship. Reflecting on the good and the bad. The risks and rewards. The great times you had together. The great years you had together. You occasionally talked yourself into a reconsideration. “Maybe… maybe we should give this one more chance.” No. You knew that wasn’t the answer. You had done the right thing. Follow through.

Later, you text your friends.

“Hey guys. Just wanted to let you all know… It’s over.”

A smattering of condolences trickle in. Everyone is sad, but nobody is surprised.

“I’m really sorry to hear that, man. You guys sure had some great times, huh? I’m sure this is for the best though. I know you made the right call.”

A few months go by.

Tinder is boring. You swipe left and left and left and left and you’re left empty. Your friends Mel and Todd are constantly hovering over your shoulder to give you their thoughts on every name that comes across the screen.

“She’s a real grinder,” Mel says.

You glare at Mel.

You hate Mel.

You swipe left. Continually.

Until, in late April, something changes. You’re ready to commit. The hole in your heart has sat empty for too long. You go for it.

Sure, the new object of your affection is from Toledo, not Stanford or LSU, but you’re content. Everything is looking up again.

You’re even ready to check back in on your ex.

You type her name into the search bar on Facebook.

…Is that… John?

You thought you hated Mel. You really hate John. John made your life a living hell in high school. He was the cheerleader-dating, quarterback-playing homecoming king who you wanted to be, and your girlfriend wanted to be with.

High school was rough.

But now you’re sure. That’s John and your ex. Why? Why would she do that to you? She knew how you felt about him. She deserves better than that! You deserve better than that.

You go to bed.

The next morning, you wake up to your phone blowing up with texts.

“Check Facebook!”

Mel was always cryptic.

Yep. It’s for real. It’s Facebook-official. She’s with John now and you’re going to be sick. But your curiosity gets the better of you. There’s a new picture.

You check the caption.

“What a dream come true! I always wanted to be with John. And I can’t wait for my ex to see me now!”

You have to lie down.

You think some more.

You didn’t have the best breakup. When you think about it again, you really did all of the decision-making. And you cut her loose. But now you can’t help but to second-guess yourself one more time.

The breakup was bad enough. But now… 

The fan reactions to the Charles-to-Denver news has been predictable and mostly understandable. But when the Chiefs chose to release Charles in February, they had to make that decision without considering Charles’ next step. Charles had no obligation to take an enormous pay cut to stay in Kansas City. He spent almost a decade selling his body to the Chiefs, and at the end of the line, there was no charity for Charles.

And that was the right thing for the Chiefs to do, in the best interest of the franchise. But it hurt Charles’ feelings.

So now Charles is in Denver, and it’s the right thing for Charles to do, in his own best interest. But it hurts Chiefs fans’ feelings.

Turn the tables for a moment. If Demaryius Thomas hit free agency and the Chiefs brought him in, hearing Thomas say that he “always wanted to play for Andy Reid” would make the fanbase gleeful. Hearing him say that he “looks forward to playing the Broncos twice a year” would help begin a flood of Demaryius jersey sales. But when it’s your all-time leading rusher throwing shade from Denver all the way to Kansas City, it’s just no fun at all.

But it’s a rare instance in sports when nobody did anything wrong. No one is at fault. Everyone is just a little hurt. Because breakups are hard.

And you’ll tell yourself that you’re going to be perfectly happy with your new date in the backfield, Kareem Hunt. But you had a good thing going with Jamaal. You were just sure that your relationship had run its course.

You were sure.

You were sure.

Damn you, John Elway.

For more from Joshua Brisco: Twitter | AA Radio | iTunes