As the reality set in, I broke down, my sobs echoing through the room. I couldn't understand how we'd come to this—after everything I'd sacrificed, all the love I'd poured into this relationship. I'd bent over backwards for Leon, trying to make his life easier. I'd rented an apartment just five minutes from his office, waking up at dawn to commute two hours to my own job so he could get a little extra sleep each morning. I'd saved every penny to support his passions, even wearing clothes from thrift stores so I could buy him the latest sneakers. I'd let go of my family's support, just to ease the insecurity he felt about my background. And still, none of it was enough. He wanted everything—everything but a life with me.
With a heavy heart, I reached for my phone again and found Leon's number. I called, hoping, desperately, that maybe this time he would answer, that he would care enough to say something more than demands for money. But the line rang until it cut off and I was left with the empty dial tone. My chest felt hollow, but I forced myself to open our chat window and typed a message, each word burning as I wrote.
[Leon, let's break up.]