Ever Plagued by Ghosts of the Past and Love that does not Last.

"Anxiety girl"
That is how I was labeled in my high school senior yearbook by a cute well liked boy who had barely started allowing himself to speak to me again after my hurting his heart just before our junior year.
I couldn't understand why he hated me so badly for not wanting to be in a committed relationship at sixteen.  (Which suggests it may have been his ego that I hurt more then his heart.)
Why anxiety girl?  Did he know me that well though he didn't speak to me or be even remotely friendly for well over a year?  Was I transparent?  Was that what others said of me?

It's been many many years since I've last encountered this boy and yet he haunted my dreams the other night.  He's haunted them before.  Too sensational and very romantic causing a deep pain upon waking that is not to my liking.
A hundred or so years ago when I "broke up" with him I really truly did not want to hurt him.  I still like him quite well.  In fact there were things about him that I liked so much it frightened me. And I couldn't restrict my repertoire to one flavor when there were so many to try.  Especially knowing that I could easily find myself getting into trouble over indulging in a flavor that agreed with me when my senses were so new to these tempting treats.
As high school progressed and I watched this flavor develop I was sad that it was not a flavor that I was any longer allowed to even flirt with.  He wouldn't have anything to do with me.  He seemed angry and cold toward me ever after.   I was not good enough for him then but why did he have to hate me for it?  It hurt me.  Then he deemed me anxiety girl. Is this why he haunts me?  He saw what I was and since it hurt me that I was no longer worth his time or energy I feel compelled to work out my feelings of inadequacy via some mystic connection to the vain imaginations of my heart and soul?

This is nonsense. The imagery is quite romantic but it is merely symbolic.  Logically I recognize this.  But symbolic of what? Symbolic of  lost time and my own shortcomings and lack of accomplishment.  Back when I was 16 I hadn't figured out what was worth holding onto and investing in.  My own sense of inadequacy has ever thwarted my attempts to pursue dreams.   Maybe it is my lack of faith in myself that hurts me.  Maybe it hurts others. I don't know if I have figured out yet what is worth investing in and holding on to.  What is worth working at or through and what is worth letting go of.
...or how
I am trying to change my course.  Trying to "make" something of myself in order to open the doors to dreams and possibilities.  My insecurities have not vanished. My flaws seemed to have, if anything, more deeply rooted themselves over the years.  It would be nice to feel that security of passion and possibilities cuddled up next to an icon of handsome success.  To feel desirable and worthwhile.
Nail is this the head?

And yet here I am Anxiety Girl through and through.