One day, while I was cleaning the house, I came across something surprising. I was dusting shelves and clearing out old cabinets when I found a note tucked behind a pile of forgotten junk. It was attached to a photo of a woman I didn’t recognize. The note read:
“Dear Matt’s Future Girlfriend,
I know you’re the one reading this because Matt would never clean this area. I’m leaving him soon and wanted to warn you about him:
- He won’t clean.
- He won’t listen.
- He’ll make everything feel like it’s YOUR fault.
It’s not your fault—he’s just an irresponsible man. I’m leaving him, and I suggest you do the same.
Best wishes, Teresa.
(P.S. That’s me in the photo. I’m really happy now after breaking up with this messy guy!)”
Something told me Teresa was telling the truth. Matt had always been bad about cleaning. We had been together for two years and living together for eight months, and I was always the one doing the dishes, taking out the trash, and folding the laundry.
When Matt got home, I showed him the note.
“What is this?” I asked.
He glanced at it and said, “Rachel, don’t even start. She’s crazy. You have no idea what I went through with her.”
But I didn’t let it go. “Matt, the cleaning thing? It’s real. I hadn’t really thought about it until now, but you’ve been doing less and less. And you never cleaned behind that shelf—that’s how I found the note.”
He raised his voice, making me flinch. “We’ve been together for two years, and you’re going to let some bitter ex ruin it?”
I crossed my arms. “I want a partner, Matt. Not someone I have to mother.”
That night, I packed a bag and stayed at a friend’s place. He texted me, “I’m sorry you felt like you had to leave. But really? You’re choosing a note over me? Over our relationship? Over our pets?”
The next morning, I went back to talk. I tried to be calm and logical. I even kept a list of all the times I had to remind him to clean up after himself.
“You’re being ridiculous, Rachel. This isn’t you,” he said.
I sighed. “Maybe this is me. Maybe I’m finally seeing things clearly.”
His expression changed to something cold, and that’s when I knew it was over. I called my brother to help me move my stuff when Matt was at work. While packing, I placed my own note next to Teresa’s:
“Dear Matt,
Clean your dirty house.
Best wishes, Rachel.”
That night, lying in my friend’s guest room, I couldn’t stop thinking about Teresa. Who was she? What was her relationship with Matt really like? I found her on social media and sent her a message:
“Hi Teresa, I think I just found your note at Matt’s place.”
She replied quickly: “Oh wow! I was wondering if someone would ever find it. Do you want to meet up?”
“Yes. Coffee tomorrow?” I asked.
Meeting Teresa felt strange at first, but she was kind and understanding. When I told her about my pets still at Matt’s place, she stiffened.
“Rachel… when Matt got angry, he could get destructive,” she warned.
With Teresa’s help—she’s a lawyer—we talked to the landlord, who allowed me to break the lease. But I had to pay for the final month.
When I went back to get my stuff, my heart sank. Dishes were smashed on the floor, my clothes were ripped, and my pet rats’ cage was open. I panicked, but then I saw two tiny noses poking out from a shoebox—they were safe.
That night, I settled into my new place with my pets. Teresa and I shared lemonade and takeout, celebrating our fresh starts. I realized I was finally free of that toxic relationship, and I wasn’t alone—I had my pets and a new friend who understood exactly what I’d been through.
0 Comments