The Flatshare

by Beth O'Leary

Yes, we fought a lot and I made a lot of mistakes in that relationship, but mostly I’d just felt so lucky to be with him. Without him I feel … lost.

That feeling again, the trapped hateful rage at hearing someone you try so hard to love saying the worst things.

Life is often simple, but you don’t notice how simple it was until it gets incredibly complicated, like how you never feel grateful for being well until you’re ill, or how you never appreciate your tights drawer until you rip a pair and have no spares.

It’s weird how easily you can get to know someone from the traces they leave behind when they go.

“Relationships like that stop being about ‘voluntarily’ very quickly. There’s lots of ways someone can make you stay with them, or think you want to.”