After Bradley met my family, I realized that there were red flags about him. He was coming home late every night. I figured he was cheating on me. I've barely spoken to Mila and Herny in the last two weeks. I tried talking to Bradley about coming home late, but he would claim he was doing nothing wrong and walk away.

I finally got home from a long day at work. I felt exhausted. It had been two weeks since I last saw Herny and Mila. It had been two weeks since I had gotten a day off. I walked up the stairs to my apartment. My feet were burning and cramping. I finally reached the top of the stairs. When I reached the top of the stairs, I was out of breath and resting my body against the wall.

After I caught my breath, I walked into my apartment and flicked on the light. The light didn't work. I sighed with disbelief and walked down the hallway to try the bedroom light. The light switch didn't work. I pulled out my phone and called Bradley. He answered right away. "Hello? You paid the power bill, as I told you, right?" I asked with a frustrated tone in my voice.

"Oh, baby. What happened?" He asked if he didn't know. "The power is cut off again! You said you paid for it! So, why is our power cut off again, Bradley?" I yelled. I was frustrated this time. At first, I let it go. He was embarrassed because he didn't have enough to pay the bill, but he wanted to help. "Baby," He spoke on the other end of the phone.

"Stop with the baby shit. Come home now," I spoke in a firm voice. I hung up the phone and walked to the back bedroom. I wanted to take a shower. I could smell myself, and I didn't smell good. I changed into my pajamas and sat on the end of our bed. I sat there thinking to myself. Maybe I should leave him? He did make me happy.

I was having thoughts about our relationship. I heard the front door open, and somebody walked inside. "That must be Bradley," I muttered to myself. I walked out of the room and walked down the hallway. I saw Bradley standing in the living room with his phone flashlight on. He didn't come home late tonight this time. "Why is the power off!" I yelled at him. He looked at the floor and then back at me. "I must have forgotten again." He said.

"You're kidding, right?" I asked him, rolling my eyes. I was done with Bradley's shit. Bradley was acting like a child. He barely helped me financially. He was older than me and should help me out if he was going to live here. "I don't want to hear your bullshit! We have no fucking power again!" I yelled at him. "If you're not going to help, then I don't want you here!" I yelled at him. I started walking toward the bedroom when he grabbed my arm.

"Okay, okay! I forgot!" He yelled. A wave of alcohol hit me in the face. I stood there in silence for a few seconds. It took me a few seconds to realize what I was smelling. He was drinking again. He told me he used to be an alcoholic. When he came home yesterday, he didn't smell like that.

My eyes grew wide once I realized what I was smelling. "What's wrong?" He asked. "Have you been drinking again?" I asked him. He started with a scared look on his face. "Don't you lie," I told him, with tears running down my face? I walked fast to the back bedroom and grabbed my blankets and pillows.

"Heather, wait!" He said, walking after me. "Leave me alone," I spoke softly. I walked past him and walked to the living room. I put the blankets and pillows down on the couch and lay down. "Heather," He spoke. I looked up, and he was standing in front of the tv. "Get away!" I yelled at him, throwing my pillow. It hit him in the face, and he stood there. "I'm sorry, Heather," He spoke before walking back to the back bedroom.

I lay there thinking of my thoughts. I knew I couldn't be in this relationship anymore. This isn't the relationship I wanted. I wanted a relationship where he would help financially. I wanted a relationship where he wouldn't act like a child. I wanted a relationship where he wouldn't get jealous of my friends.

I decided that I would tell him how I was feeling. Then if he didn't change, I'd leave him. I understood Bradley had a lot of things happening in his life. Especially his past life. I wanted a child. That was my dream. That's the reason why I wanted to date in the first place.

Then I started to think, what if we had a child together? I loved him so much. I didn't want to leave him, but I wanted to listen to Mila. Mila was right. Bradley has major red flags. If we had a child, they wouldn't have the best life.

I know I would be a great mom, but what about Bradley? He's not even financially responsible. How is one supposed to care for a child if he keeps forgetting to pay the bills? We never talked about having a child together, but what if we did? Would our child that a good life? I thought those thoughts until I finally fell asleep.

The next morning. I woke up on the couch, with the sun shining through the windows. I got up from the sofa and walked over to the light switch, and it didn't work. I sighed, remembering that the power was still out. I walked to our bedroom and saw Bradley lying in bed with no light source. I ignored him and when to the bathroom to start getting for work.

I was ready for work and about to walk out the door when I heard Bradley's footsteps walking down the hall. "Heather?" I heard him ask. I paused at the front door and stood quietly, staring at the door. I heard his footsteps reach the living room. "Heather, I'm sorry," I heard him say behind me. I turned around, and he was standing close behind me, still wearing his pajamas.

We stood there for a few seconds, staring at each other. He walked into me and brushed my brown hair behind my ear. "I don't want to hear it," I spoke, walking away towards the kitchen. "I understand you're still grieving your family's loss, but this is too much. You're lying to me, coming home last and drunk. This does not want I wanted in our relationship! I didn't want this! I love you, but I can't handle this anymore if you don't change. I'm going to leave you for good." I explained to him. He stood there silent as I walked past him and out the front door.

I went to work like usual. I felt stressed out with everything happing in my life. While I was at work, I called the power company and found out that the power bill wasn't paid. I paid the bill and was told the power was turned back on. I texted Mila and Henry throughout the day and decided we would meet at their apartment later tonight.

When my shift was over. I went to Mila and Henry's apartment. They were already sitting on the couch when I walked into the apartment. "Hey, sorry if I startled you both," I said, walking toward where they were sitting. I sat on the sofa across from them. "How are y'all?" I asked them. "We are good, and you?" He asked. "Yes, I'm okay, I guess," I replied. "What's wrong?" She asked.

When she asked that, I realized that my relationship was falling apart. I realized I was no longer happy being with Bradley. I still loved him, though. They sat there staring at me for an answer. I felt tears running down my cheeks. "What's wrong?" Mila exclaimed, sitting beside me. She rubbed her hands on my shoulders.

"It's okay. Tell me what is wrong," She said. I felt so many emotions that I felt like I couldn't speak. They could tell how I was feeling. "Is it Bradley?" She asked. I nodded, wiping my tears. "My relationship is falling apart. He's been coming home every night. Yesterday, he came home drunk. I ask him for help with the bills, and he barely helps. I asked him if he could help pay the bills, and he said he forgot because when I came home yesterday, the power was cut off again." I explained to him. After I told them what was happening, I felt like a weight was lifted off my shoulders.

"I know what you're going to say. I'm going to leave him," I told her. "When?" She asked. "Soon," I replied. "Please stay with us, Heather," She said. "I will soon," I replied. She rolled her eyes. "Do you have to be so stubborn? Why don't you listen to us?" She asked. I wasn't in the mood to answer dumb questions. I ignored them.

"Did you try to talk to him?" He asked. "Yes, I told him I was going to leave him if he didn't change," I said. "Is your power back on?" She asked. "Yes, I was told it was cut off because the bill wasn't paid, and I paid it," I explained to her.

"You should look through his phone," She suggested. "Yes, I plan on doing that," I replied. "I have to go. I'll keep you two updated," I said, getting up and walking toward the door. I left their apartment and drove home. I went to my apartment, and Bradley's car was outside the building. I went inside, and he was in the bathroom. I walked past him without saying a word. I changed into my pajamas and lay in bed.

I knew I smelt bad. I could smell myself, but I didn't care. Bradley walked into the bedroom and sat beside me on the bed. I ignored him and pretended to be asleep. "I know you're not asleep," He said, "I want to make it up to you," He said. I continued to pretend I was asleep until I finally fell asleep.