Today would've marked the 10-year anniversary to my previous romantic
relationship—the first one I've ever had. Starting as we were both entering
adulthood, this relationship began at the cusp of major changes in our lives
at the time. Alas, that relationship ended towards the end of 2019. I really
thought it'd last forever. I really thought we would be our only partners. But
17-year-old me couldn't foresee the changes that were about to happen; she
couldn't know the developments that unraveled along the way. She couldn't even
imagine that I would be the one pulling the trigger. All that being said, I
would say, we had a pretty good and healthy relationship. For a while, we were
happy. Something like that—one that has been with you for so long—created a
lasting impression, imprinted a series of habits and reflexes to fall back on.
These are things you can't just shake off in a hurry. I don't like to think of
it as a failure. I'd like to think that the relationship has served its
purpose; he, however, might beg to differ. The relationship and the ending
both changed my life and, if anything, there are so many things I could take
away from it. If you'll allow me, I'd love to share a few major ones with
you.