That best describes how I was with Ed (Not his real name…but close). We always slept over at my place because he had roommates. That should have been a warning sign that I was dealing with a boy, but I just told myself he was being fiscally responsible. After two weeks he asked for a drawer to keep some of his stuff in. I didn’t hesitate because I thought it meant we were getting serious. He taught part-time at a university while he was pursuing his dream of becoming a famous musician. Another warning sing. I thought it was cute, but I should have just thought he was pretty much unemployed. But I was hooked.

We started fighting about two months into the relationship. He flirted with other girls in front of my face. I got upset, but he reassured me it was for his music persona. I bought it. He said the same thing about some texts I found. “His female fan base was important.” I bought it. I became increasingly miserable but thought I was in love with him. I ended it about two months later after talking about the situation with a very old friend of mine.

I’m happier alone than constantly worrying that my boyfriend had to flirt with other girls as a part of his job. He probably cheated, but I’d like to never know. He cleared out his drawer. The ties and some bad memories are the only thing left behind of Ed.