So, I moved in with him thinking wed be starting fresh, but I ended up crashing on the sofa in what was supposed to be my home too. When I agreed to live with him, it was because I genuinely believed wed build something together. I left my old neighbourhood, my routines, and all my things behind. I just packed some clothes, my hopes, and this dream of having a real home as a couple. He was renting this tiny studio flat in Manchester, but told me it was just for nowwed find somewhere bigger soon. I actually believed him.
At first, it was good. Wed sleep in together, cook dinner and watch shows in the evenings. It was definitely snug, but it felt like our place. Then one day, he came home and said his mum was having money troubles, and his sister had just lost her flat. He told me it would only be for a few days until they figured things out. I didnt want to seem selfish, so I said it was fine.
But those few days dragged into weeks. Suddenly, the bedroom was his mum and sisters, since Mums older and needs a proper bed. His sister moved in like shed always lived therecompletely took over the wardrobe and left her stuff everywhere in the bathroom. And I ended up on the pull-out sofa in the living room. At first, I honestly thought it was temporary, that theyd find a solution soon. But no one even talked about them moving out. Every night, Id make up the sofa with blankets, and every morning Id tidy it away so the lounge would look normal.
It quickly got awkward. My things were shoved into corners; I had no space of my own. There was nowhere to just relax, and whenever I came home after work, all I wanted was to put my feet up, but there was no chance. His mum picked on everythingmy cooking, my clothes, what time I got in. His sister didnt bother looking for a job, stayed up all night, and Id always find a stack of dirty dishes in the sink. But somehow, I was the one who felt out of place.
What hurt most was realising he did absolutely nothing about it. He never once said, My girlfriend deserves her own space too. Never set any boundaries. In fact, he told me I should just be patient, be understanding, and stop making a fuss. One evening, exhausted from barely sleeping, I told him something had to changeI couldnt keep feeling like a guest and sleeping on the sofa. And all he said was, Its my mum, its my family. Thats when I knew, I just wasnt part of the picture.
I spoke to my own mum and moved back home, to the place I grew up. Sometimes he still calls, says we can be togetherjust not living together. And honestly, I dont know what to think anymore.
