Excuse me! I'm talking

This is my very first online post so have patience. Writing is something I've done when I was young, youthful and full of meaning. Now I'm older with a narrow view of the world. Skewed even one might say from the toils of work and the ups and downs of growing up. But happening through another come and go relationship I came across something by happenstance.
Honesty. Again I repeat honesty. The short story is that we parted ways on a good note. No hard feelings on either part. That's all a lie. We have never spoken again and I truthfully couldn't tell you what her life has been like 15 years or so later. That's the truth. The whole truth.
Now I do lie but only so few a time. I actually dip my toe into what I call the grey area more then anything. Be it work or friends or even family. Why does the truth have to be so hard. Why can it not flow off the tongue with gentle ease. I'm sure someone smarter then me can explain it but that's for another day.
So my whole point to all this is honesty needs aftercare. I haven't had to administer aftercare as most of you would come to know the term but do practice honesty more then most would find. It's unpleasant, not easy, hard, not as much fun but it does require aftercare.
When you tell someone the truth in a relationship such as I'm not wanting a relationship that doesn't mean that's it. I find that people get to hide behind their truth. I told you is not a proper response. Listening and understanding the other while still being honest about something is the aftercare. I've watched people find honesty after years of lying (years) They believe it's like a vow of chastity after years of enjoying themselves sexually. Taking the time to explain yourself, not brushing people off, ghosting them is the hardest part.
Now this is from a guy who spent his life in vanilla relationships. I haven't had the hard aftercare except my words. I'm the fly on the wall in this space. So what do I know.
Gabriel