The final straw
PEOPLE break up or reach the brink of no return for all kinds of reasons, ranging from a partner’s nagging habits to a significant breakdown in communication. And while some people are fortunate enough to make it back from the brink of break-up, there are some relationships where there is so much degradation that all it takes is just “one more time” for everything to crumble.
Below, All Woman readers share what triggered them to finally call it quits in their relationships.
Marsha, 43, business development manager:
He told me after we were together for 13 years that his rich fiancée was coming and asked me to go back to my house for two weeks, with all my belongings of course, because he had told the woman months before that we were no longer together. Then he had the audacity to tell me it was for a better a life for me and him. I thank God for that wake-up call — it inspired me to make a complete turnaround. No man will ever get the opportunity to ask, worse tell me, to leave their house especially since I have my own.
Ann, 32, teacher:
I grew tired of him cheating on me but I would always forgive him when he did until he brought home an incurable STD. I had to leave before he took home HIV because then I couldn’t live with myself.
Terra,37, consultant:
He had no intentions of marrying me — after eight years together I found messages between him and his favourite cousin saying he was looking for stability. This, even though I contributed more to the house, was in the better job, and forgave him for his indiscretions. I no longer wanted to be in the way of him and his stability so I stepped even though he begged me not to. It was the best decision I ever made.
Ellis, 53, business owner:
She told me she didn’t want to have kids with ME. I then understood why she freaked out and once insisted that I drive her 45 minutes away to a pharmacy at 2:00 in the morning after the condom broke. I later found out that she kept a stash of morning after pills and had run out that time.
Samm, 33, nurse:
It was when I realised that for him it was almost always his way or the highway, compounded by the fact that his needs always came before mine. Can you imagine we fought about whether “my money” would go towards his tyres or my sick mother, and you know what, I barely ever went into the car because he never offered to even take me to work even though he knew I would put gas in the tank.
Frank, 44, contractor:
She had a gambling problem, plus a wine addiction. I bailed her out twice, but when I realised she was getting worse, no matter the amount of help I got her, I couldn’t stay, especially when I found out that she was exchanging sex with a guy to hold off collectors, and he left threatening messages on my phone. This is a woman who is educated and makes good money.
