I wanted to share my story in hopes of preventing this situation for younger girls and to let all of you know the warning signs so you don't find yourself in the same situation I have.

I met him when I was 17. It was my first job, I was a barista in a small local coffee shop. He was 26, a whole nine years older than I. He was handsome, and had a face any girl would fall in love with. He seemed to have it all together, even though he was older, we got along so well. Everyone always told me that I looked and seemed so much more mature than my age. So I didn't see the harm in talking and texting him once in a while.

He would greet me excitedly when I came in for my shift, he would flirt, and when my boss was a jerk, he would step in. I was in love.

He told me how much my friendship meant to him, and after only a couple of months of being friends, he opened up about his drug problem. Pain killers and pills were his go-to, but guess what? "You're the reason I want to get sober" he said to me. My teenage girl heart fluttered inside. He cares so much for me, I thought.

My 18th birthday, almost a whole year of talking in secret, he met my parents. They liked him enough, though it came to a shock to them when they found out his age. The coffee shop closed in December, only open for about 4 months. So since December, we were long distance (an hour or so away from one another).

My 18th birthday, we had our first kiss. We shared a bed, and I shared my body with him. It's moving a bit fast I thought, but I loved it, we were in love.

We spent Christmas and Valentine's day together. Still in love. We didn't get to see each other often as he didn't have a car, and he was getting back on his feet from drugs and debt. So this time we spent together was so important to us. Come august, shorty before our birthdays (9 years 9 days apart) my friend died of cancer. I was upset, I was pmsing. He yelled at me for asking the cat to get out of the chair. He didn't talk to me for 2 days. I was broken. I broke up with him, thinking I had enough. "If it comes down to you or my career, I'm choosing my career" he'd said to me. I was fine with that. "I don't want to feel the need to compliment you all the time" was his response to me when I asked why he never called me beautiful or sexy like he use to. After a week, he talked me back into dating him again. "It'll be different this time, you will see". He said to me. Christmas came around, and this time I had been isolated from my entire family, I had no friends. I made a bit more money than he did management job). I was 19, he 28. "I just need some money to get me by until I get paid again" he said. These past few weeks with him had been rough, and the more I thought about it, the less sense everything made. I couldn't have friends or like guys pics on IG, yet he can hang out with friends and like pictures of half naked girls? "It's artistic, that's why I like them". This past weekend, he went out with his friends, and ignored me. For the 100th time. After not having friends for so long, I had finally had enough. He texted me and asked if I were happy, and I said no. He wasn't either. We called and talked on the phone, and after him saying he didn't think our relationship was worth it, I broke up with him. "We need to think about this before making any decisions, he said. "But the relationship isn't worth it" I said to him. He made me swear to tell everyone that it was mutual, that he broke up with me because work got in the way. But I think I'm going to tell everyone the truth.

The relationship ended because it was toxic, and it was my choice. It feels so good to say that. I cried all day yesterday, but today, there's no tears. Only dark circles under my eyes, but I'm still smiling. And I'm so much more happier than I could've ever dreamed. All of my friends are back and supporting me 100%. Its so weird that the thing I thought would be so hard to do, I did it with such ease. Ill be 20 in August, and in October I'll be going to school to pursue my dream. Until then, I'll be working my management job, getting a new car with my own money, and spending time with my friends. And it feels amazing.

All I'm asking you to do is to look out for the warning signs, don't let the relationship be one sided. Be young, and explore. The relationship had its good parts. He taught me how to pay attention when buying a car so I don't over pay, he taught me how to get my first credit card. He introduced me to so many good and fun things. But you can't hang on to the good things forever. Eventually, the bad will outweigh the good. And if and when it does, please do not hang on to that for the sake of the relationship.