It was awful. One of the worst thing I ever have to do. Especially when it's a girl who has been genuinely sweet to you, but you had to move on for other reasons. I've never heard someone cry so hard. Man it hurt to do that...

Three seconds. That's how long it took. Your shoes. Your posture. The way you held your drink. Whether you looked at the floor or looked at her.
She already filed you away. Interesting. Boring. Safe. Bold. Before you even opened your mouth.
Everything you say after that is just her confirming what she already decided.
So stop rehearsing lines. Fix the first three seconds. Stand tall. Look up. Smile like you mean it. Walk like you belong wherever you're standing.
The words come later. The impression comes first.