“UZweli kumele kube khona lapho eya khona bese uma ethi uyaphuma uSihle afonele uNgwebedla amtshele ukuthi useyahamba. Akucaci ukuthi kwenzakalani kodwa ushona engozini yemoto,” kusho umthombo. towards the end my relationship, i was in it for him and not me. i had gotten to the point that i felt like if i left, the backlash that i would feel was way worse than me leaving. he would do anything in his power to win me back-- i was afraid of this. it is not dramatic and i was not being abused. however, i had created a pattern of self--sacrifice in this relationship that led me to feel as though i had to continually give. i gave so much that it felt heavy and it tired me out. giving this much became a serious burden, one that i had to rid myself of. leaving this relationship is one of the best things that i have ever done because i did it for me, my health and my future."