I broke up with him the day my story was published. The pieces of advice I got from the comment section gave me the courage to take that step. However, I couldn’t move out of his room because I was not financially ready to get a new place for myself yet.......CONTINUE READING THE ARTICLE FROM THE SOURCE>>>>>
Some people asked where my family was and why I couldn’t go live with them. Some also suggested that I move in with a friend. I read all the comments and tucked the advice I got under my sleeves.
Trust me, I wanted to move out even before I shared my story but I had absolutely nowhere to go. I am an introvert. The kind who gets so anxious talking to people to the point that I am unable to make or keep friends. So that option was not on the table.
My family lives in my hometown. I only moved to the city because my sister was working here. I lived with her for a while until I could stand on my feet. Then I saved money from my job and got my own place. By God’s grace, my sister also experienced her own change. She got married and moved in with her husband.
While she would never turn me away, their place is not big enough to accommodate me properly. I would end up being in their space and invading their privacy. I didn’t want to make them uncomfortable like that. That’s why I didn’t go to her when my rent was expiring. It’s also the reason I didn’t go to her even after I broke things off with Marley.
I continued to stay with him. I told him, “I know I ended things but give me some time to find a place so I can move out.” He agreed alright, but his behaviour worsened. I didn’t mind though. One advice I got and could easily work with was that I should save. So that was my plan.
I was determined to get my own place within the shortest possible time. So I had to forego convenience and comfort. I starved when it was necessary. I stopped contributing money to the upkeep of the home as well. I acted broke and always asked him for money. He insulted me every time he gave me the money but I didn’t complain. I took it and saved it.
While I was doing all that, he was busy dating whichever female was within his space. I am using female instead of woman because some of his sexcapades were with underage girls. He didn’t care enough to hide them from me. Maybe the fact that I was now his ex meant I had earned a front-row seat to his adventures.
Usually, I left home before he did and I was the first to return as well. However, two months into our breakup I started meeting him at home every time I got back from work. I asked him what was going on and he said, “I haven’t been well so they gave me a week to rest.”
After a week, he was still always at home. I didn’t want to be too nosy so I didn’t ask any more questions. It was his friend who told me that Marley had been sacked from work. “He and two other guys got into some trouble.”
When I asked Marley he didn’t deny it. “I am sure I will find something else soon,” he said. I nodded and said yes even though I didn’t intend to stick around and find out.
He started being nice to me after that conversation. He started doing the sweet and lovey-dovey things he used to do when we were together. The sudden change was both shocking and frightening. It reminded me of how quickly he changed when things got better for him.
One morning while he was trying to get touchy with me I asked him, “Where are all your little girlfriends? I haven’t seen any of them in the house for a while now?” He stopped all of a sudden and looked away from me as if staring into my eyes would turn him into stone or scorch him into ashes.
I also asked about his friends. The new ones he made when he started getting money. “Have you isolated yourself from them because you can no longer keep up with their tastes? That must be why you’ve been complaining of loneliness these days.” That one too he couldn’t find words to answer me.
The next day he woke me up at dawn, overflowing with apologies. “I don’t know what got into me. Please forgive me for how terribly I treated you. I promise to make things right if you give me another chance.” By then, I had gathered money from every corner I could find. I was this close to moving out and I didn’t want him to ruin things for me. So I just said, “It’s okay. I have forgiven you.”
I didn’t lie. I found a way to forgive him for the sake of my peace of mind. But fool me twice, shame on me. I could not even fathom the thought of taking him back.
It wasn’t long after his apology that I finally paid for a place and moved out. It’s not fancy but it’s my space. I didn’t know I was at war until I left the battlefield. I love the peace this new space brings.
I am so thankful that I didn’t allow him to walk over me for too long. Thank you to all the people who read my story, comforted me, and gave me good counsel. In the spirit of new beginnings, I hope I find true and good love someday. As for Marley and his woes, they are no longer my business. I have blocked him everywhere.
