As the months went by, Max's behavior became more and more controlling. He would dictate what I wore, who I talked to, and where I went. He would get angry if I didn't comply, and I would feel guilty for upsetting him.
I was blinded by love. I convinced myself that Max's behavior was a sign of his devotion, that he was just trying to protect me. I ignored the warning signs, and I stayed in the relationship, hoping that things would get better.
But things only got worse. Max's jealousy turned into possessiveness, and he started to isolate me from my friends and family. He would get angry if I spent time with anyone else, saying that I was cheating on him.
I felt like I was living in a prison. I couldn't do anything without Max's permission, and I felt like I was losing myself in the process. But I was too scared to leave, too scared of what Max might do if I tried to break free. Max meant everything to me, but I was becomimg a shadow of myself, it was dratically messing with my mental health and I couldnt concentrate on school and work max took all the time.