I (18F) have been in a relationship with my boyfriend (18M) for five years and loved him since 5 . We’ve had our ups and downs, but I always believed we would be together forever. I loved him with all my heart, and he was the most important person in my life. I trusted him, and I thought we had a future together.

However, things took a turn recently, and I ended up being the one to break up with him. I wanted to share my story because right now, I feel so lost and devastated. I don’t know what went wrong.

Throughout our relationship, he used to be caring and supportive. But recently, when I started thinking about my future, I realized that I needed to pursue my career and build my own dreams. I have always wanted to start a perfume business, something I’m passionate about. I also dreamt of working in the medical field. But when I brought these ideas up to him, he completely shut me down.

He said that I wouldn’t be allowed to have a job, let alone a business. His reasoning was that his family had never worked outside of the house, and it would be ridiculous for me to do so. When I suggested my perfume business, he told me it was “not for women,” that it wouldn’t make money, and that it wasn’t reliable. He also insisted that if I wanted to work, it had to be from home, where I could just manage things from behind the scenes for him.

I tried to explain that I had my own ambitions, that I wanted to build something for myself. But he didn’t listen. He told me that I had to either choose him or my career. He said I had to give up my dreams and be a traditional housewife, looking after him and his family. His exact words were that I should not expect anything more than that, and if I wanted to work, it had to be on his terms.

I fought back, telling him that I wouldn’t give up my dreams for anyone, and if he couldn’t support me, then we shouldn’t be together. I thought he would understand, but instead, he became angry and started playing the victim. He even called my brother, crying and blaming me for everything. The situation escalated into a huge argument, and in the end, I couldn’t take it anymore. Thanks my brother sided with me.I broke up with him.

What hurt the most was how he completely dismissed my feelings, my desires, and my individuality. It felt like he was trying to control my entire life, dictating what I could and couldn’t do. He couldn’t even stand up for me when it mattered most — when I asked him to support me in my dreams. And when I decided to leave, he made me feel like I was the one in the wrong.

I’m now left feeling completely shattered. I don’t know how to move on, and everything feels so overwhelming. It’s hard to focus on my exams, and I just feel like I’ve lost everything. He was my everything, and now I feel like I’m nothing without him. I’m still questioning if I made the right decision.

I wanted to share this because I feel like I’m drowning right now. Has anyone gone through something similar? How did you cope and rebuild your life after losing someone who you thought you’d be with forever? I just need some advice or encouragement.