I thought my relationship with Matt was solid. We had been together for two years, living together for eight months. Sure, we had our disagreements, but I believed we were building a life together. Then, one day, I found a note that changed everything.
While cleaning our apartment, I stumbled upon a crumpled piece of paper tucked behind a stack of old magazines. It was from Teresa, Matt’s ex. The note began, “Dear Matt’s Future Girlfriend…” and listed all the ways Matt had failed her:
“He will not clean.
He will not listen.
He will make everything feel like it’s YOUR fault.”
Reading those words felt like a punch to the gut. Teresa’s note ended with a sarcastic jab: “That’s me in the picture & I’m really happy now after breaking up with this unhygienic stinky bomb ;).”
At first, I thought it was just a bitter ex’s attempt to cause trouble. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized how much it mirrored my own experiences. Matt’s laziness, his excuses, his dismissiveness—it was all there, laid bare in Teresa’s handwriting.
I confronted Matt that evening. He dismissed the note, calling Teresa “crazy” and accusing her of trying to manipulate me. But I couldn’t ignore the truth in her words. Our relationship had become one-sided, with me constantly making excuses for his behavior.
The next day, I packed my things and left. I left Matt a note of my own: “Clean your dirty house. Best wishes, Rachel.” It was a small act of defiance, but it felt like reclaiming a piece of myself.
In the months that followed, I focused on rebuilding my life. I found a new apartment, reconnected with friends, and started a blog to share my story. I wanted to inspire others to stand up for themselves and prioritize their own happiness.
Finding Teresa’s note was a turning point. It forced me to confront the truth about my relationship and take control of my life. Sometimes, the smallest discoveries can lead to the biggest changes.
