Why does love hurt so much?

I (29F) recently ended things with someone I had been seeing. We spent a really nice evening together — cooking, going to the supermarket, watching movies, laughing — and then we decided it would be better to stop seeing each other because he said he doesn’t want a relationship.

What confuses me is that after saying goodbye, he still messages me to check if I got home safely and asks how my day was. I didn’t expect that. I thought we would just go no contact and move on.

I’m trying to respect the decision we made, but emotionally it’s hard because the connection felt real. Part of me wonders if he still cares, and another part of me thinks maybe he’s just being polite. My heart is bleeding 💔 it's hurt so much Has anyone experienced something like this? How did you handle the mixed signals after a goodbye?