One of the girls I've been seeing recently ended it today.  But in a cool way.

She asked if we could have coffee first and talk.  I said sure, she's pretty cool.

She knew my Starbucks order, had it waiting for me when I got there.  She gave me a hug and a smile.  Then she told me she was conflicted.  She like seeing me but her ex-boyfriend reached out and wanted to try again.  She didn't want to cheat on either of us.  So she asked me how I felt.  I told her that I was happy she was honest and wanted her to be happy.  She did still are for the ex.  So we ended it there with her having a clean conscience going back with him.  I felt good, she's cool but I already have something long term that is awesome.

Over the years, I have had two long term SB/SD type relationships "end" the way you describe, only to have them contact me about a year later and ask to pick up where we left off.

 
Stay subtly in touch like sending a brief text on her birthday, or some occasion like Christmas, nothing heavy, just a brief hello, how are you?  

 
The art of being a good "breaker-upper" can't be over-stated.

That's an impressive young lady.  The vast majority of women I've met would not be classy enough to handle things the way she did.  They'd just ghost you... or lie to you... and be undisturbed about it.

I agree with Mr. Fisher. Keep the door open, no point in burning bridges. I had a recent breakup with a year-long SB as she is moving out of state. She doesn't expect to be returning to visit, and will likely be relocating permanently if her new life works out. It was sad seeing her go but I will occasionally text her and see how she is doing.  

Another story: I had another SB who ghosted me after a handful of great BCD's. I kept the door open and 6 months later she got back in touch and apologized, we are now a regular thing and going strong. I was angry about being ghosted but I kept my cool, knowing it is better to keep the bridge open than to burn it.    

I saw a sugar babe once.  After we were pondering our next meeting when she said she just got a new boyfriend and she would have to stop seeing me.  Literally two days later she contacted me and said we could meet again -- which we did.  

Not at all.  She was cool.  We had our thing.  If she pops back up I'll see where I'm at.  

I've had quite a few SBs who went through several boyfriends during the time we were sugar dating.  The coolest girls were open with me and with their BFs about seeing other men.  Being ENM was the condition their BFs had to agree to in order to be with them.  More commonly, they never told their BFs about my presence in their lives and we kept dating secretly.  And of course, a few just ended it with me when a new BF entered the picture, sometimes elegantly like Netnoy described, more often simply ghosted, which I hate. But I totally agree, don't burn bridges!  You never know when a past SB is going to urn up again.  Matter of fact, I've got one of those in the works rn.  We dated regularly back in 2019.  She has a solid, live in BF who knows about me and is evidently cool with it.  And she wants to get together again!