It was May and high-school graduation was upon us. Having turned 18 the previous month, I was excited to finally be an adult and out of school. College wasn’t for me; I’ve had enough studying and wanted to get out to see the world! Perhaps a stint in the Peace Corp would satisfy my wanderlust. Yet, not everyone approved of my yearning to go out on my own. My boyfriend, James, wanted me stay in our hometown and support him while he began college. Despite caring for him deeply, I felt that he was a bit delusional in thinking I’d stick with him after high school. He had plans for marriage, I had plans to find myself.
In the week leading up to graduation, James wouldn’t stop talking about HIS plans for OUR future. I was sickened by it. The last straw came when he showed me the kind of house he wanted to buy with me. I couldn’t take it anymore. On graduation day, I broke up with him. He was devastated. I felt bad momentarily, but when I saw him cry, I lost all respect for him. In the weeks that followed, he wouldn’t stop messaging me and leaving voice messages. It was getting out of hand.