While cleaning one day, I discovered a hidden note from my boyfriend Matt’s ex, Teresa. The note, addressed to “Matt’s future girlfriend,” warned me about his habits, including not cleaning, not listening, and shifting blame onto others. This resonated with me, as I had been noticing similar issues in our two-year relationship, especially with Matt’s lack of cleanliness. When I confronted him with the note, he dismissed it, accusing his ex of being crazy and claiming she was ruining our relationship. Despite his anger, I realized I had been neglecting my own needs, and that was when I decided to leave.

After moving out, I reached out to Teresa and we met for coffee. To my surprise, she was kind and supportive, sharing that Matt had been destructive when angry. With her help, I was able to break my lease early, but when I returned to gather my things, I found Matt had damaged my belongings and let my pets loose. Thankfully, they were unharmed. Later, Teresa and I celebrated our newfound freedom, marking the beginning of a new chapter in our lives.