You have come more into your own these last couple years.

[He's super curious about who the other person is now. He'll have to remember to ask some other time.]

The truth is that any one of us could disappear, or meet an untimely end, that does not mean we should rush into a situation we haven't prepared for. The fact that you requested more time and she respected that is something to cherish. It says you've a relationship built on trust and mutual respect.