When I returned with the coffee, I found Matt standing in the living room with my books packed back into boxes. The photographs I had hung were gone, and a handwritten list had been taped to the refrigerator.<\/p>\n
It divided every household task between us\u2014but nearly everything was under my name.<\/p>\n
Cooking, cleaning, laundry, grocery shopping, scheduling appointments and eventually caring for the children he expected us to have. His section contained only rent and utilities.<\/p>\n
Matt smiled and said this was what he meant when he promised to \u201cprovide.\u201d Since he earned more and paid the deposit, he expected me to handle the home. He had even calculated how much money he believed my unpaid work would save him.<\/p>\n
I reminded him that I had a full-time job too. He shrugged and said my career was not as demanding or valuable as his. Then he added that because he was covering more rent, the apartment was \u201cbasically his,\u201d and I should be grateful.<\/p>\n
The romantic promise from the previous day suddenly sounded very different. He had not offered financial support because he viewed us as partners. He believed paying more entitled him to control my time and define my role.<\/p>\n
I unpacked nothing else.<\/p>\n
Because my name was on the lease, I contacted the landlord and explained the situation. We negotiated an early change, and Matt remained responsible for the apartment he had insisted upon.<\/p>\n
I moved back into my old place that afternoon. Living together had lasted less than one day, but it revealed a future I was relieved to escape.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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