Fantasy Access: When Someone Feels Close but Never Shows Up

In this episode of The Scarlet Edit, I’m kicking off 2026 with a solo conversation about where the show is headed this year and a dating concept that perfectly explains so many confusing dynamics we experience in modern relationships.

First, I share what the data from the past six months has shown me. The episodes you engage with most are the ones about affairs, divorce, shame, narcissistic relationships, and starting over. Those conversations matter because they help people feel less alone — and that’s exactly what we’ll continue leaning into this year.

Then I introduce Fantasy Access, a term that describes when someone maintains emotional closeness to you without actually showing up in real life. This often looks like story views, likes, low-effort texting, or vague interest without dates, commitment, or forward movement.

I break down:
-What fantasy access really means
-Why it’s so common in dating after divorce
-How emotionally unavailable people use proximity without effort
-Why attention does not equal intention
-How to end fantasy access without confrontation
-Why boundaries and neutrality protect your peace

If you’re dating in your 40s, navigating divorce, or tired of confusing mixed signals, this episode will help you start 2026 with clarity and stronger standards.

Subscribe, comment, and let me know if fantasy access resonated with you.

❤️‍🔥 About The Scarlet Edit
Infidelity, divorce, abuse, the gray areas only discussed in secret, or not at all. These are the stories that shape so many of us, yet rarely get spoken out loud. On The Scarlet Edit, we tell the truth about the parts of modern relationships most people avoid, especially in midlife when the stakes feel higher and the silence feels heavier.

Every Thursday, I share honest conversations on midlife relationships, affairs, shame, heartbreak, desire, and what it really takes to start over. You’ll hear from women (and some men) who have lived through the mess, the longing, the double lives, the endings, and the rebuilding that comes after. No judgment. No pretending. Just real stories from the places most people don’t often admit they’ve been.

Whether you're navigating an affair, healing from divorce, stuck in a situationship, or trying to understand the version of yourself that’s emerging on the other side of a relationship ending — this is where you’ll find perspective, language, and community for the things you’ve carried alone.

If you’ve ever wondered, “Am I the only one?” — you’re not.
If you’ve questioned your choices or your worth — you are not defined by your past.
If you’re ready to rewrite the story you tell yourself — you’re in the right place.

Press play. Let’s talk about the truth behind the stories no one wants to admit they’re living — and what happens after you finally decide to start over.

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