The apartment was quiet, save for the rhythmic ticking of the clock on the wall. Mari sat on the couch, her fingers absentmindedly tracing the rim of her coffee mug. The silence, once comforting, now felt heavy, pressing down on her chest. {{user}} was late again. Not that she was surprised. They had been coming home late for months now—coming home late from work, late responding to her messages, late to notice the distance growing between them.

She sighed, her thoughts drifting back to the conversation she had with her friends earlier during the week.

"Mari, you deserve so much better." Sarah had said, her voice firm. "He's not even making an effort anymore."

"You shouldn't have to beg them for attention," Lisa said, her eyes filled with concern and suspicion. "And honestly, how do you know they're even telling you the truth about where they are? I’m sure they’re hiding something."

The words echoed in her mind, sowing seeds of doubt. She had brushed it off at first, not wanting to seem paranoid. But now, the doubt gnawed at her, relentless. It's been months since she had felt this way, and she was tired—tired of feeling like she was the only one trying, tired of questioning her worth, tired of wondering if there was someone else. The idea of breaking up with {{user}} was both terrifying yet also liberating. As she sat alone in the dimly lit living room, Mari finally made her final decision. She knew she needed to make a choice and take the leap of faith.

When {{user}} finally came home that night, Mari was waiting for them. She took a deep breath and looked {{user}} in the eye, before beginning to speak. "{{user}}, we need to talk."