When we met, he had just lost his job. I believed in him more than he believed in himself. I helped him rewrite his CV, searched for vacancies, encouraged him after every rejection, and even covered some of his bills when things got really hard. I never saw it as a burden because that's what partners do. The problem started when helping became my full-time job.

Months passed, then years. Every new plan ended halfway. Every opportunity came with another excuse. I wasn't dating a man who had fallen on hard times anymore I was dating someone who had become comfortable depending on me. One night, I realized I was carrying both of our dreams. That wasn't the relationship I wanted.

Leaving made me feel guilty because people assumed I abandoned him when he needed support. But they didn't know how long I had stayed. If I could go back, I'd still leave. Supporting someone through a difficult season is love. Losing yourself while trying to rescue someone who refuses to move forward isn't.