You have a lot of company, and while none of us can ever fix the past, we can try out new choices and discover ways to get better results, for example learning who is worth walking away from much sooner. We all have legions of people we wish we had seen on television instead of knowing them in real life. That said, the glass is always half full insofar as knowing you a little bit as I do definitely makes up for a whole herd of clowns and wretches.
BTW, feeling better always comes, but it just takes some time. I promise!
Maybe I join you in this sentiment, wasting many years on the wrong person happened to me. I'm a bit ahead of you on fixing that but it still has it's moments where I feel lost
I think that's largely the name of the game, wasting the best years you had. Then you spend the rest of the time scrambling to make up for it. In the end, it somehow works out.
The thing about the old Prince of Darkness, is that he likes to skate, but he's very self-conscience about it. He's not about to strap on a pair of skates and go cruising down main street.
You just have to happen upon him when he least expects it. You'll be walking down the street, see something swoosh past, and say, "Holy fuck! That was Satan on roller skates!".
Then all you have to do is throw down a banana peel to trip the fucker up.
Good companions are few and far between. Sometimes it takes a lifetime of chocolate and wine to find them. When you do it is worth all of it. I wish you great happiness in your near future.
Gotta say I've been there, done that regarding wasting formative years with people who turned out to be complete wastes of time and yes, it sucks. Sorry to hear you're feeling that way, you deserve better.
Hello my favorite rata
no more weight of having that person around 
