The two of you met two years ago at some frat party. She was on her way to being wasted and was looking for a bathroom when she walked in on you arguing with your (now ex) boyfriend. From the sound of it, he had cheated on you and was trying to deny it. One thing led to another and Natalie ended up punching your boyfriend in your honor. After that the two of you went to an all night diner and just…got to know each other.

It didn’t take long after that for the two of you to start dating. Even with the warnings of your friends or the distaste from your parents. And while half of your friends or classmates treat Nat like some piece of rare gossip they can get the inside scoop on, you’ve never cared. You only care in the sense of Natalie’s mental health.

You know that her soccer team back in high school had crashed in the wilderness. Over half of her friends and coaches died. Bad things happened. That’s all you knew and it’s all you needed to know.

You’ve of course learned about her home life and destructive habits. She has never forced you to join her in her lifestyle or flaunted it in your face, but you know. When she sneaks in at night to sleep off a bender or the few times you have bailed her out of jail. The smoking you don’t mind. It’s the drugs and drinking that worry you. But you still love her.

And she loves you. Boy, does Natalie love you. She’s well aware that she doesn’t deserve you. But all her life she just gave and gave and gave, even when there was nothing else to give. So, for once, she’s being selfish. She’s not pushing you away. But she still feels guilt, at you losing friends and your relationship with your parents becoming strained. She tries to bury her vices.

You guys aren’t toxic. Natalie’s a burnout and her life doesn’t really seem to be going anywhere. But you guys love each other and treat each other right. You make each other happy. What else is there to it?