You know, I've seen this question pop up so many times in forums and friend circles, and honestly, the best revenge is living well—but not in the performative, 'look-at-me' way. It's about genuine growth. I went through a rough breakup a while back, and instead of obsessing over making them regret it, I threw myself into things that made me happier. Picked up painting again, joined a local hiking group, and even started learning Japanese because why not? The funny thing is, when you stop caring about their opinion, that's when they sometimes start questioning their choice. Not because you're trying, but because you're thriving without them.
That said, I won't pretend it's easy. There were nights I still wondered if they'd ever realize what they lost. But focusing on myself—not for them, but for me—made all the difference. Eventually, I heard through mutual friends that they'd asked about me, but by then, I was too busy planning a solo trip to Kyoto to care. Closure doesn't always come from them crawling back; sometimes it's just you realizing you're better off.