When Matt insisted on covering all our rent, it felt like something out of a love story. “Let me take care of you,” he said, with warmth that felt real and reassuring. I never imagined those sweet words would turn into invisible threads, quietly tying me to a life where “our place” gradually became “his space.”
There’s something seductive about someone wanting to provide for you. It can blur your judgment and make you overlook the unspoken terms of their so-called generosity.
When Matt first brought up the idea of moving in together, I thought we were stepping into something beautiful.
We’d been together nearly two years, and living under one roof felt like a natural next step.
“Think about it, Alice,” he said one night as we lounged on the couch. “You’re already here most of the time. Why are we paying for two places?”
He wasn’t wrong. My favorite coffee mug lived in his kitchen. Half my clothes hung in his closet. Even my well-loved stack of true crime books—books he liked to poke fun at—had found a permanent spot on his shelf.
“We’d be so much happier,” he added. “No more scrambling for clean clothes or rushing across town to make a Zoom call.”
I pictured cozy Sundays making pancakes, weeknight dinners we’d take turns preparing—domestic bliss. It felt like we were finally building a shared life.
But a small voice inside me whispered concerns.
“Matt,” I said cautiously, sitting up straighter. “I need to be honest. My job at the shelter doesn’t pay much. I love what I do, but nonprofit admin doesn’t come with a big paycheck.”
The work fulfilled me—helping families, organizing outreach, seeing real impact—but my bank account always told a different story.
Matt, meanwhile, had a steady remote job in tech that paid well over twice my salary. With his flexible hours and Wi-Fi-based lifestyle, our move felt easy—at least for him.
“I can chip in for rent,” I offered, “but it’ll be a stretch.”
He shook his head. “No way. I’ve got us covered. One day you’ll be the mother of my kids, and it’s my responsibility to provide. You just focus on what you love.”
He said it with such certainty and tenderness, it made my heart swell. It felt like love.
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