Real relationship?

three years is a long time to stay in something that gives you dread. i was in a similar spot — with my ex, we kept talking about buying a house together but every time i’d start picturing it, my stomach would knot up. i thought i was just scared of commitment, but really, my gut was telling me something wasn’t right. i got so caught up in what my family wanted, what people expected, that i almost missed the truth: i wasn’t happy. i ended up calling it off six months later, and while it hurt, i’ve never regretted listening to that feeling. if moving in feels like a trap, don’t do it. not yet. and definitely don’t have kids to please anyone else. you already know what a bad marriage feels like — trust that wisdom. take a weekend and sit with this: if no one had opinions about your life, what would you actually want? write it down. burn it if you want, lol. but get honest with yourself. you deserve more than fear dressed up as love.