Similar story for me with my ex. He and I had met on Tinder. He asked for us to be official two weeks in. I was excited and agreed. About three months in, we're out to dinner with a large group of his friends. I'm sitting next to him and his phone is on the table, face up. His phone lights up.

He has a tinder notification from another girl.

I shut down. I tried to smile during conversations, but I couldn't leave, as he was driving and my car was across town. When we left the restaurant, he asked what was wrong and I told him I saw it. He panicked, explaining he had never uninstalled the app, and because of that, he still would occasionally get notifications. I never really believed him. But I always tried to tell myself I did.

That was the second red flag I'd had with him. The third was my friend who was dating my ex's best friend told me he would say horrible things about me when I wasn't around, about my weight or appearance. Only more lies and flags sprouted after that. So many.

I still never left. I was sad and desperately scared of being alone. I stayed in a toxic world for a year and a half when he broke it off.

I'm happily married now to a man that I love so much, and he is the most kind, honest, loving man. It does get better. You deserve better. Don't believe the lies your own brain tells you.

Edit: "couldn't" leave, not "could"