I just wanted ONE day with my friends, now I'm the villain??

Okay so let me tell you something that actually happened because I'm still trying to wrap my head around it.

I was dating this guy who at first seemed super sweet and ''in touch with his emotions,'' y'know?? But then it turned into something so draining and manipulative and I didn't even realize until I was in the middle of it.

So here's what went down: We'd been spending literaly EVERY single day together for like a month straight. No joke. No time for myself, no time for friends. Just him. And I started feeling like we had nothing left to talk about. We'd just sit there, scrolling or staring at each other like... dead silence. Not even in a cute way. In a ''we are turning into one person and it's weird'' way.

So I told him -Nicely!!- that I wanted to hang out with my friends for one day. Like just ONE day. So I could breathe a litle, catch up with people, have a laugh, feel like me again. And he literally LOST it. Started crying, saying things like ''You don't love me,'' ''you're abandoning me,'' and ''I knew you'd leave me like everyone else.'' Boy...

Next thing I know?? People start pulling me out of class. Teachers, friends, even people I barely talk to. All whispering, ''He's been crying all day'' ''He says you broke his heart,'' ''Why would you do that  to him'' And I'm just standing there like... WHAT???

I didn't cheat, I didn't ghost him. I didn't even argue. I just asked for a little time with my friends. That's it. But he made the whole school think I'm this heartless monster because I wanted a day to recharge and feel normal again.

That's not love. That's manipulation. If your boyfriend makes you feel guilty for having a life outside of him - run. Fast. You're not selfish for wanting balance. You're not cold for needing space. And you are definitely not the villain for choosing your own mental peace.

Don't let anyone make you feel bad for being a person with needs outside of a relationship. Real love supports you. It doesn't trap you.