The Breakup Test

My phone buzzed. I think we should break up. Most guys panic. I didn’t.

I texted back: “I agree. Your stuff will be on the porch in an hour.”

Instant chaos. Wait?? I was joking. Ryan?? Hello??

Crying emojis. See, this wasn’t new. Anytime she didn’t get her way,

she’d pull the “maybe we should break up” card. Every argument was just another “test”

to see if I’d beg. But this time? I was done. When I said her things would be

outside, she finally admitted it: “I was testing you to see if you'd

fight for us.” Testing. Control. Manipulation. The whole relationship