You get over them in pieces, in forgotten memories and faded pictures. You get over them when you wake up one morning and their absence no longer consumes you. Instead, you wake up and focus on the things you have to do and somehow the thought of the other person diffuses so quickly, like you never even knew them.
You will get over them when you get on Facebook and their face is no longer everywhere you look. You're not curious about what their family has been up to or if they got that promotion they have been working so hard for. When you're not analyzing every photo, every like and every comment. When you're finally posting accomplishments that you are proud of, not little things that you hope will catch their eye long enough to want you back.
You get over them in deleted text messages, burnt photos and sweatshirts donated to Goodwill. You got rid of the box of their stuff on the top shelf of your closet, not because you realized they were never coming back, but because you realized you no longer wanted them to.
You get over them when you hear their name and don't jump out of your chair or feel your heart beating one million miles per minute. You're not overwhelmed with curiosity or itching to ask questions about how they are, where they're living or if they've fallen in love yet. You will realize that instead, their name makes you cringe because it reminds you of a time you were so desperate to win someone else's affection. You will get over them when you realize that you were trying too hard to be with someone who will never deserve your love.
You will get over them when you meet someone who makes you feel something that you never thought was possible. When you meet someone who doesn't make you go crazy trying to understand why they can't give you a chance or why they keep letting you down as if you mean nothing to them. You will realize that love is a reciprocated feeling and what you felt for every other person before this was never love.
You will get over them when you see them years later and it feels like you're talking to a stranger or meeting someone for the first time. They're insignificant now and it feels so good.