Category: relationships

  • Untangled 24: I Seemed Happy

    The time for me to leave was coming fast, so packing and purging went into overdrive. The last 30 year of my life needed to fit nicely into my U-Haul trailer. This was a hard thing too, what would I take and what would I leave? I sold some stuff and gave the rest away…

  • Untangled 23: The Dream

    Operation Offload the Freeloader was in full effect. I wasn’t sure how or when I would do it, but it was going to get done. In the midst of that, I noticed that my books at work started to get light again. Little did I know, coronavirus was on the scene, and because I don’t…

  • Untangled 22: Big man on campus

    It was a year and a half into the relationship when I decided to give it my all. I ignored the diagnosis, the red flags, and everything else. I didn’t want to walk away without having done everything I could—y’all know what I’m saying. During that time, I booked two trips: one to Miami and…

  • Untangled 21: He said nothing

    He slept for the next few hours, then got up like nothing had happened. He went to get food and of course came back with flowers. Since the morning’s events, he had become playful and lighthearted. He seemed a little different—like he realized what he had done and felt remorse. I didn’t want to discuss…

  • Untangled 20: the devil

    One day, while he was playing his game, I told him we should talk. He immediately got defensive, but that tactic was old with me. I told him I didn’t want this any longer—I didn’t want a relationship with him; I wanted to be by myself. I even offered to help him find a place…

  • Untangled 19: One Sided

    A few times, his doctor’s appointments would run into the afternoon, so on these occasions, I found myself taking Ubers or Lyfts home. I was paying the note on a new Nissan Murano but didn’t drive it because he was using it to get to doctors appointments and court dates. My resentment towards him and…

  • Untangled 18: Eat Crow

    It was indeed late-stage prostate cancer, according to him. He began telling me about PSA numbers and the possibility of having surgery. I felt like I was in a tunnel—my freedom was no longer within reach. When would this be over?! What was my obligation anyway? My life was no longer my own. I needed…

  • Untangled 17: Maxed out

    I went numb. I had never had a $200 minimum payment on any card. Out of fear, I didn’t even use my Nordstrom card. Knowing his health condition, I kept my cool and asked him how soon the case would be over because my Nordstrom card was maxed out. He said it had been continued…

  • Untangled 16: Another Uhaul

    Another few months passed—oncology appointments, weekly blood transfusions, and court dates for him. For me, it was working more hours to cover my new credit card debt, higher utilities, and increased grocery bills. By the end of that first year, I could no longer afford my beautiful apartment. So, I found another two-bedroom apartment a…

  • Untangled 15: Memphis

    I want y’all to know it wasn’t all bad. If it were all bad, I wouldn’t have stayed as long as I did. Narcissistic abuse is never all bad. There is a mixture—just enough to make you doubt what’s happening. They prey on strong people for this very reason: strong people don’t believe it could…