Love and Hope. One of my daily prayers to myself/family/friends and those that are without those two things. With those two things--anything is possible. JMO.
I could never 'date' someone 1/2 a century older (if I was 18). Now definitely not cuz the person would be 95. I dated a 21 year old for a year when I was 40 and it was too extreme. I felt like a baby sitter. Okay, that sounds gross. Plus or minus 10 either way but no more.
Ended for other reasons, not sticking through good and bad. It just was what it was. Some I wanted to end, others they did. I think there's always one that doesn't want it to end (from my experience anyway). I suppose my ex-wife was that person, stuck through no matter what but I wasn't happy and looking back, it was the right decision to divorce. We're still friends, she's been with someone else for over 10 years. People in long-term, with no end in sight, relationships are very lucky. Maybe one day, it'll happen to me too.
RE: Their past
Sounds right. Things come out through time. Less is more.