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Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

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What on earth happened?

779 replies

Newbie96 · 01/03/2021 10:55

Hi everyone, long time reader but first-time poster. I'll just jump straight into it. Please be kind.

My boyfriend and I have been together officially for a year, we've known each other since we were around 13 - 14 and attempted to make a go of it as teenagers (around 18) but it never worked. We've been in contact ever since because we both have mutually been drawn to one another. He often tells me he has compared every woman he's been with to me and to be honest I've done the same.

I am now 25 and he is 27. We got together just before lockdown last year and have spent nearly every waking second with each other since. We had been spending a lot of time together prior to lockdown happening and we both jumped at the opportunity to become each other's support bubbles when the time came and to be honest, it has been total bliss, we genuinely never argue, he is like my bestfriend.

Luckily for us, the lockdown has been kind to us mostly because we've had each other to get through it and it has made us grow extremely closer. I can honestly say the past year we both have agreed that we have been the happiest we've ever been, our relationship being one of the main reasons.

We both live alone and so we stay back and forth between his place and mine, only having to travel now and then for work etc. Due to our history and of course how much time we've spent together, emotions have definitely intensified and I am very much in love with this man, he knows this and tells me he feels the same way.

So fast forward to the weekend just gone, we had planned that I would spend the weekend at his house. I arrive at around 6:30 on Friday evening and things are good but I can sense that something is off/ or that he isn't exactly in the mood. I decide to ignore it but it seems to only get worse. Usually, we would sit down, have a conversation about our day and watch a series episode together which we commentate back and forth with each other but this time it's pure silence. Neither of us was physical with each other, he actually even sat on the furthest part of the sofa away from me. I can honestly say this was the first time I felt a little unwelcome in his home, which is odd considering how much time I have spent there and I've never felt this way before.

I mean maybe I overlooked everything far too much so please tell me if that appears to be the case. An hour of silence goes by, most of the time it was him on his phone whilst I watched the episode by myself, he stands up and asks if I am hungry, I say yeah and he says okay I will cook something for us. As it was the first proper real words we had spoken to each other all night, I decided to ask if everything was okay? he says yeah so in a jokey, laughing tone I ask if he wants me over tonight as it feels a little as if I'm intruding.

Well what happens next I didn't expect it at all, he is stood in the doorway of the living room and begins to get more and more wound up, he starts off by saying "of course I want you over but you have been sat there all night with this miserable look on your face, giving off bad energy" his voice is slightly raised but I don't retaliate and I calmy say "okay well I must have read it wrong, I wasn't trying to give off bad energy, I've been looking forward to seeing you all day" but he is so annoyed and goes off again accusing me of being the reason why the energy is so wrong between us tonight and how dare I blame him for it. I apologise again and say that I must have had a long day. He then goes on to say "well this is weird for me now so I think its best you leave" I am in shock as he walks out of the living room into the kitchen, in an attempt to let things settle, I leave it 5 minutes and walk into the kitchen with him and ask if he would really like me to leave? He responds "I'm just saying maybe its best", the thing is I can see on his face he is visually angry and in my head, I can't figure out why he is so annoyed, over something that in my mind was so trivial and silly. Like a fricken helpless puppy dog, I look at him again and ask if HE wants me to leave? and he responds "you know what yeah I do".

I take myself to the other room and begin packing up my stuff and I can hear him stomping and slamming about. I obviously felt a little confused because the whole situation felt extremely blown out of proportion. Once my things are packed I give it one last attempt and go and sit next to him on the sofa, I ask him if we can talk about this and I gently reach my hand out to touch his arm, but he blows up and is practically foaming from the mouth shouting at me not to touch him and that he just wants me to leave, at one point he swings the front door open and walks out of the front door in nothing his dressing gown, I don't chase him because I was honestly just shocked. He begins texting me telling me to leave his house or he won't come back? - I replied and told him I'm leaving but I would have appreciated it if he came back and just spoke to me. After 5/6 minutes pass, he comes storming back into the flat, pushing past me in the hall and is still foaming at the mouth shouting at how it's my fault and I'm making it worse by not leaving. Like a fool, I started to cry because I could see this has all escalated into a situation I didn't want for us at all. He tells me crying doesn't help the situation so tearfully I leave. As I wait outside for a cab, I check my phone and notice that he has blocked my number, my WhatsApp and my Instagram. I am totally confused and hurt by all of this and in my honest moment of craziness, I create another account on Instagram and message "I'm sorry for everything that just happened, I didn't expect any of that. I accept I was in the wrong and that I read the situation wrong, please can we talk when things are calmer?" he replies "please just let me know when you are home as I won't be able to sleep until I know your home" I leave it and let him know I am home, he bluntly replies "good, night" I again press on and I ask if we can talk? he responds and says "no I just want to go to sleep, we have been so good lately and now I'm laying here crying," I tell him I love him and that I don't want him to be sad, he replies and says he knows I do and that I should go to sleep.

Saturday morning comes and I message saying I hope he is okay and that again when things are calmer can we talk about this? he reads and doesn't respond. Sunday I message again along the same lines but telling him I miss him, again he reads and doesn't respond.

This morning I received a message from him saying "I told you that you were just making everything worse on Friday and you just didn't listen, you just thought you knew better and now I'm going to show you what I meant. I don't care, sorry" I sent some messages, honestly being very weak and pitiful, telling him that I would just like us to talk and sort this out as I miss him and this isn't like us at all, I then check for a response and he has blocked me from that account as well, so there are no ways of contacting him.

I just can't make sense of it all, we have never argued like this ever. I didn't expect him to blow up the way he did after asking him if everything was okay. I just feel like its all my fault for ruining something that we had so good. I feel really sad, low and alone and just wish he would calm down and speak to me.

Please give me your take on this entire, childish and shit situation. Did I do something wrong? and is he really never going to speak to me again over that?

Thank you

OP posts:
AGirlCalledJohnny · 02/03/2021 08:39

Aye aye (no shit) cap’n Wink

JackRussellJacket · 02/03/2021 08:41

A lucky escape OP. I wish I had been wise to it when this happened to me and left the relationship there and then. Instead I waited and when he made contact and apologised and showered me with compliments about how I was ‘the one’ and ‘he didn’t know what had got into him’ I believed him and went back into the relationship. I genuinely thought he would change. He didn’t and it happened again and again.

If he can do this once he will do it again. They chip away at you so you start clinging on for dear life. They hold the strings. They have control and you are at their mercy depending on their mood.

Block him. If he makes contact, block him. Keep well away. No-one has the right to treat you like this. How dare he? You deserve so much better.

RuleWithAWoodenFoot · 02/03/2021 08:43

Have a line that you use with him, I dunno "You scared me, that's not something I'm willing to accept and since it came from nowhere, I can't be sure it won't happen again. I deserve better than that." End.

Thefirsttime · 02/03/2021 08:48

I agree with PP he deliberately engineered this. In his mind, however you reacted would be wrong. If you’d left immediately it would still be your fault as he’d use that against you for not caring.

Roughy how much money have you given him? Are we talking £10s/100s/1000s? I agree with @Changechangychange that No, he didn’t hesitate, and no it didn’t make him uncomfortable. He’s fleeced you and dumped you. You probably aren’t the first.

The leaving the house in only his dressing gown comment struck me too. Is it normal for you to arrive and for him to be only wearing a dressing gown? I assume since he didn’t really speak to you when you were there that he must have been wearing just the dressing gown when you arrived (as opposed to changed into it while you were there).

Agree completely with this from @RantyAnty

From what you said, I suspect he was having someone else come over that night.
Him starting a fight for no reason, blamimg you, then telling you to leave.

Then his odd comment about letting him know when you were home as he wouldn't be able to sleep. Pseudo concern.

Then abruptly saying good night after you told him you were.

He could invite her over without worrying you had decided to comeback over to try to talk again.

However I also wonder if he’s had someone else there before you arrived which is why he has switched from being absolutely fine with you earlier in the day to being cold and engineering making you leave and being dressed in only a dressing gown when you arrived. And he’s engineered a situation to make you leave so he can see them again that evening.

He’s a complete arsehole. Please don’t sit around hoping he contacts you. Please don’t waste your time trying to understand or get closure on the situation. The way he has acted IS him so please don’t excuse it and thinking that it isn’t the real him, it is.

AGirlCalledJohnny · 02/03/2021 08:55

@Thefirsttime

I agree with PP he deliberately engineered this. In his mind, however you reacted would be wrong. If you’d left immediately it would still be your fault as he’d use that against you for not caring.

Roughy how much money have you given him? Are we talking £10s/100s/1000s? I agree with @Changechangychange that No, he didn’t hesitate, and no it didn’t make him uncomfortable. He’s fleeced you and dumped you. You probably aren’t the first.

The leaving the house in only his dressing gown comment struck me too. Is it normal for you to arrive and for him to be only wearing a dressing gown? I assume since he didn’t really speak to you when you were there that he must have been wearing just the dressing gown when you arrived (as opposed to changed into it while you were there).

Agree completely with this from @RantyAnty

From what you said, I suspect he was having someone else come over that night.
Him starting a fight for no reason, blamimg you, then telling you to leave.

Then his odd comment about letting him know when you were home as he wouldn't be able to sleep. Pseudo concern.

Then abruptly saying good night after you told him you were.

He could invite her over without worrying you had decided to comeback over to try to talk again.

However I also wonder if he’s had someone else there before you arrived which is why he has switched from being absolutely fine with you earlier in the day to being cold and engineering making you leave and being dressed in only a dressing gown when you arrived. And he’s engineered a situation to make you leave so he can see them again that evening.

He’s a complete arsehole. Please don’t sit around hoping he contacts you. Please don’t waste your time trying to understand or get closure on the situation. The way he has acted IS him so please don’t excuse it and thinking that it isn’t the real him, it is.

Lots of sense here. Take a breath. It’s sad, but he’s not the guy you thought he was
thinkingaboutLangCleg · 02/03/2021 08:59

What a nightmare, OP. What a horrible shock.

Sad to say, I agree with Rainbowshine and everyone else, He wanted to end it but make it seem to be your fault rather than cope with being the bad guy. Totally following “the script” men who are arseholes use. If you have a rummage through the relationships board you’ll recognise the behaviour.

Don’t let him come back and repeat the drama.

You are a kind and loving person, and still young with every chance of meeting someone who deserves you. Flowers

Livelovebehappy · 02/03/2021 09:12

Whatever his reasons, his behaviour was so bad. Not necessarily the spat leading up to it - the ignoring and awkward silences. But when he asks you to leave, is aggressive, and then blocks you - absolutely unacceptable in any relationship. If you were married or had children together, you would probably make an effort to sort, but you fortunately have no commitment to him. Look to the sky and thank the heavens that you can just walk away and not look back. Be strong. He will be expecting you to try contacting him, it boosts his ego. Ignore all attempts he makes to contact you, because that might happen when he feels you have been ‘punished’ enough. If you got back with him, you would feel like you’re walking on eggshells and would be anxious that this could happen again. He’s really not worth it.

ArabellaScott · 02/03/2021 09:27

@Rainbowshine

My take on it - He wanted to end it but make it seem to be your fault rather than cope with being the bad guy. Totally following “the script” men who are arseholes use. If you have a rummage through the relationships board you’ll recognise the behaviour from other threads. Also look up gaslighting. These are not the behaviours of men you want in your life.
Aye, this. Sorry, OP. Sounds like he's just too cowardly to end it graciously. Flowers
Iloveallcats007 · 02/03/2021 09:32

OP, I had a similar situation with my Ex years ago- this thread reminded it to me very much.
We dated for approximately 6 months, everything was a pure bliss and amazing.
We were both in our late 20s.
We texted and were in contact 24/7, he also lived near me.
We were at each other houses almost daily,we saw each other daily.
A Big amazing love, at least I thought so.
3 days before it all ended he wrote me a long letter in a beautiful card saying how Much much much he loves me, he is the most happiest man in the universe!
A few days later I did not had his regular morning text where he would say something in lines of : good morning baby ( my girl, princess etc)
I texted him about lunchtime casually if he is ok, he replied I’m ok, busy!
During the day I did not hear from him at all- normally I would have about 20 -30 texts from him by evening- mostly sweet rubbish but I loved it.
Anyway to cut this short - he changed 180degrees over that night.
Obviously I asked him what was wrong etc just like you.
He kept avoiding to speak to me, he even created a fake argument that I am too much (suddenly ) blablabla, he is sooo busy.
He also deliberately texted me few texts which looked they are for his friend-( pretending that he sent them to me in error) saying words like : when she gonna get that it is all over?
How do I tell so she gets it and fucks off?

It all ended up in tears few days later ( my tears)
The truth was he got back with his ex girlfriend who decided to contact him and wanted him back.
He changed his behaviour to me literally on the spot in 180 degrees - from a loving amazing boyfriend who declared a days before how much he loved me to cruel bastard who dumped he like that.
I also did not understand anything and I could not get why.
I did not even knew about his ex girlfriend as he said he was single for years.

Newbie96 · 02/03/2021 09:37

Morning everyone! I was shocked to come on today and see how many people cared enough to comment. Thank you so much.

Last night I got home, showered, shed some tears and fell asleep. Pitiful I know.

Everyone here has been so wise so I'm really happy that I posted, I haven't heard from him. I also haven't snooped or tried to contact him. I randomly woke up at 5 this morning and instinctively grabbed my phone to check for messages but no nothing, not even a lousy apology.

Thank you to everyone for being so comforting and kind to me.

In response to some of the comments made, he has never acted like this before. Between his flat and mine, we have lived with each other for a year, so I know what makes him tick and how he would usually act when irritated and in all honesty, usually we just don't stay mad at each other at all and it is resolved quicker than its started.

It's interesting that many of you say maybe he wanted to bring someone else over, we had been speaking during the day and he seemed just as eager to see me as I was to see him so he really did have ample opportunity to tell me if didn't fancy it anymore.

He is not my first relationship no, but I would definitely say he was my first 'love', I've felt that way about him since we were kids. I mean he claimed to have felt the same way but I guess that was all a load of BS too.

Addiction wise, during our relationship I had helped him stop smoking weed because he said he wanted to stop. He seemed to be doing really well and we found healthier habits for him to focus on, like going for walks and exercising at home together. Do you think this could be related to his blow out? I would have maybe expected a blow out when he first quit but not months down the line.

The dressing gown, I think this is the only part of the situation I smile about. To be honest yes, he had been home all day and if we ever had "chill at home days" then it's common for him to be in his comfortable clothes, so I wasn't so shocked by his attire.

Although hard to read, I can see how I made the situation so much worse by not leaving. I would never want to make him feel as though his boundaries were not being respected so I can see how my not initially leaving made him felt that way.
I must say the whole ordeal lasted for a 1hour and 45 minutes, that's from me stepping in his front door and then leaving. 1 hour of us chilling in awkward silence and 45 minutes of me acting like a pathetic little girl.

It really did stem from a place of wanting to resolve the situation, I didn't intend on making it worse or purposely riling him. I don't know why I didn't leave or why I was frantically apologising. I guess in the midst of shock I thought in my head there was a solution and if he could see that I was calm and loving towards him it would calm him down too. I realise that was a mistake.

My chest feels so tight again today and I found it the hardest to get out of bed to drag myself to work so I was a little late (oops), not that I'm all that product right now.

There is a huge part of me that I find is waiting to hear from him, but why am I doing that?! I'm not perfect, far from but how he handled that situation was so, so wrong, whether you love me any more or not, or ever did, I deserved more than that.

Thank you everyone xxx

OP posts:
Laurenb2392 · 02/03/2021 09:37

I’ve dealt with so many men like this I consider myself a professional now

Part of me is saying he’s met someone new but doesn’t want to tell you that and hurt you so it’s building up inside him as rage

The other part of me is saying he’s testing you. Believe it or not some men just love drama and that toxic environment, they thrive off it l. However it is strange it’s took nearly a year for him to start showing these colours. Most men it starts to shine through after a couple of months.

My advise is do not contact him and I am 90% sure he will contact you. Every time you contact him it will push him further and feed his ego. You need to just cut him off completely, if you use WhatsApp block him back so he can’t see your photo

However if he does come back you need to assess if this is someone you really want a relationship with because it just gets worse.

I have a ex and there was no violence involved ever but he was a MASTER manipulator, he would often do little things to get rises out of me like change his photo to him and a girl if I hadn’t spoke to him, not answer calls and texts for days bla bla bla

However I turned that round and started doing the same to him and then I became equally as toxic. It’s emotional hell which leaves mental scars.

I’m with someone new now however I still think of him and I still love him even though we haven’t spoke in two years. It was me that eventually moved on for good and if I didn’t move on I would still be in that situation now.

SapatSea · 02/03/2021 09:47

OP you have done nothing wrong. You felt the bad energy/PA when you arrived and so kept quiet to give him space. You reacted instinctively and reasonably.

He could have had someone there earlier. You know him, not us, so other things to consider would be if he is avoidant in relationships - things were great and you were getting "too close" so he has freaked and ended things abruptly as there is no real logical explanation he felt he could give. Some guys when things get close start to feel they are being controlled, that they "have " to do things like having you over every other day and feel resentment and then kick back due to their own personality and RL issues. It's not you, it's him.

Newbie96 · 02/03/2021 09:49

Thank you both! Looking at it now I can see how he has some serious issues that he needs to work on. As do I to accept that kind of behaviour. At the moment it just feels like a huge loss. x

OP posts:
SVRT19674 · 02/03/2021 09:50

He has met someone and feels a bit guilty about telling you take a hike. He is 25 and wants to meet new people. I am very sorry for you because you did not see this one coming and you will need some healing because he was cruel to you instead of upfront. Breaking up would have been painful for you but he has done it in a nasty way which makes it worse. Be kind to yourself and please stop apologising for nothing at all.

Laurenb2392 · 02/03/2021 09:52

Do you think this could of been a lockdown relationship? What was he like before lockdown? Was he a jack the lad?

Newbie96 · 02/03/2021 09:53

Thank you, SVRT19674 . Crazy when you think you know someone hey! The thought of him with someone else makes my stomach turn! but i really do just need to accept whats happened.

OP posts:
MzHz · 02/03/2021 09:53

I know you say you’ve been with him a year, in the abuser time line that is nothing.

It takes on average 18m for an abuser to show who they are.

I think this is what happened

Either way, even if I’m wrong, you don’t flower, foam and threaten people you care for

He made up that mood, he manufactured it. That’s why I’m so stuck on abuse being the nub of this.

Make sure he stays out of your life

Never ever allow anyone else I make you feel like that again.

Draw this line now, make it hard and fast and don’t ever compromise on being treated anything less than with respect again.

That’s where some of the comments about you leaving the first time it was mentioned came from.

Have a good day, try to forget about it, stop second guessing and accept that he’s treated you appallingly and won’t be getting another chance to do so. No matter what he says keep him gone.

MzHz · 02/03/2021 09:54

Glower not flower HmmSmile

Regularsizedrudy · 02/03/2021 09:55

He manufactured a situation so he could end it with all the blame on you and non of the guilt on him. He’s a fucking crazy creep. Notice how YOU end up repeatedly apologising for his batshittery? Walk away with your dignity in tact and never contact him again.

PassionPeach · 02/03/2021 09:55

OP, you weren't acting like a pathetic little girl, you were thrown for a loop because the idiot couldn't decide what was going on in his own head. My ex used to do the same thing. He would orchestrate situations where I would be left confused, upset and admittedly a bit clingy because he knew what to prey upon. This would be done so he could try and make me argue with him, giving him the opportunity to say I was a 'psycho' or trying to manipulate him with my emotions, when really, it was him manipulating me into becoming upset. He did the same when he finally dumped me too. He kept trying to goad me into an argument but I wasn't taking the bait by that point.
Just please move on. You sound like a nice person, and caring enough. You don't deserve to have your head bent like this! Leave him to play mind games with someone else and get yourself with someone who isn't going to melt your brain.

MzHz · 02/03/2021 09:55

All abusive relationships start as absolutely perfect. He’s been mirroring you, and future faking no doubt.

He thought he’d got you on the hook so could relax and show who he was

Newbie96 · 02/03/2021 09:56

Laurenb2392, to be honest, we started dating and was pretty serious before lockdown so I had convinced myself it wasn't that, but I'm probably wrong.
He has always been popular with the ladies though and he knows how to speak to women, when we were younger he was a bit of a jack the lad but I thought he would have grown up because I know I have x

OP posts:
JackRussellJacket · 02/03/2021 09:57

You sound absolutely lovely OP. Too good to be on the receiving end of this!

Perhaps he had been smoking weed and wanted to get back to it. It reminded me of my ex. Almost identical scenario where he completely ‘lost it’ with me, was angry, wanted me to leave, insulting, didn’t want me there. He later admitted he wanted a joint and couldn’t do it with me there.

I think you have hit the nail on the head.

Please don’t get back with this man. I regret that I did.

Newbie96 · 02/03/2021 10:02

JackRussellJacket - Thank you so much, your so kind!

I did think about this being an option! I also want to make it clear I never forced his hand to quit. He would tell me constantly that it is what he wanted so I just was there for him through it xx

OP posts:
JackRussellJacket · 02/03/2021 10:13

I think you have hit the nail on the head. Sadly when they want a joint that’s all they can think about. He could have just explained that to you - that is the normal thing to do - the fact that he was mean and abusive instead demonstrates that he isn’t a person you need in your life. It is not ok.

My ex eventually told me he resented the fact he couldn’t have a joint when I was around. He was so mean to me when he wanted a joint in order to get rid of me.

Fine. Have your joint. Have as many as you want. I’m not coming back.

Run for the hills OP. This is no adult.