August 9th 2024.
Michele couldn't fathom the idea of living in a houseshare again. The thought of wandering from room to room, seeing all the empty shelves and drawers, filled her with a sense of sadness. It reminded her of the time when her long-term boyfriend and she had broken up in July 2023. He had moved out right away, but it took him two months to retrieve all his belongings from their shared flat. It was now just her, living alone for the first time in her life.
Her friends had been a great support system, helping her make the space feel like home again. However, they also questioned her about whether she had considered finding a new place to live. She had briefly thought about a houseshare, but after looking at the available properties, she realized they were smaller and not much cheaper. Against her friends' advice and their concerns about her financial situation, she decided to stay in her current flat, even if it meant working three jobs.
Despite the fact that her rent and bills made up 70% of her income, she didn't regret her decision for a moment. She loved living alone and having the freedom to do what she wanted, when she wanted. She would gladly work multiple jobs in order to continue living on her own.
Michele and her ex had moved from London to Hertfordshire in December 2022 with the intention of settling down. They chose the area because it was more affordable than the city, yet still close enough for their daily commutes. Plus, they had friends in the area. When they first saw the flat, Michele wasn't impressed with the way the previous tenants had decorated. The slanted loft ceilings made it feel smaller and less homey. But her boyfriend helped her see the potential of the space, and they both fell in love with its two bedrooms, open-plan kitchen and living room, and spacious bathroom. The location was also perfect, with a high street, Tesco, pub, and café all within walking distance, and a parking space included.
After their offer was accepted, Michele took charge of decorating the flat. She hung pictures and artwork on every wall, filling the space with color and memories of her travels and experiences with loved ones. Her ex's only contribution was insisting on having his PS4 in the living room, accompanied by a gaming chair that didn't match the rest of the décor. But she didn't mind, as she wanted him to feel at home in their shared space.
However, when they broke up, everything changed. Their split was far from amicable, and Michele made it clear that he was not welcome back in their home. It was a difficult decision, but as she was estranged from her mother and her father had passed away, she needed the place more.
Living alone was an adjustment for Michele. She missed having someone to talk to and share the household chores with. It was strange being accountable only to herself and having the freedom to walk around naked or leave dishes for days. But it also gave her the space to work through her emotions about the break up, something she wasn't quite ready to confront in those first few months. Despite the challenges, her home was her solace, and she was determined to make it her own.
When Michele walked through the empty rooms of her shared flat, she couldn't help but feel a sense of sadness wash over her. It had been two months since her long-term boyfriend had moved out, and even though she had the help of her friends to make the space feel like home again, she couldn't shake the feeling of loneliness. They had broken up in July 2023 and it had taken him that long to finally take his belongings from the flat they once shared.
For the first time in her life, Michele was living alone and it was a strange and unfamiliar feeling. Her friends had been supportive, but they couldn't help but ask if she had considered finding a new place to live. There had been a moment when she thought about moving out and finding a more affordable option, like a houseshare. However, a quick search on Rightmove showed her that the available properties were smaller and not much cheaper than her current flat. Against her friends' advice and despite their concerns about her finances, she had decided to stay. Even if it meant working three jobs.
It was true that her rent and bills made up a large portion of her income, about 70%, but she had no regrets. Michele loved living alone and having the freedom to do whatever she wanted, whenever she wanted. She was willing to work three jobs for the rest of her life to maintain that independence. When she and her ex had moved from London to Hertfordshire in December 2022, they had wanted to "settle down." The area was cheaper than the city, but still close enough for their jobs and because they had friends in the area.
At first, Michele didn't like the flat they eventually chose. The previous tenants had decorated in a way that made the space seem smaller and less inviting than it actually was. But her boyfriend had helped her see the potential of the flat and they decided to make it their home. It had two bedrooms, an open-plan kitchen and living room, and a spacious bathroom. And the location was perfect, with easy access to shops, restaurants, and public transportation. It even came with a free parking space for Michele's car.
Once they had moved in, Michele took charge of the decorating while her boyfriend focused on setting up his beloved PS4 in the living room. She filled the walls with pictures and artwork, and added personal touches and memories from her travels and experiences with loved ones. Even though the gaming chair didn't match the rest of the decor, she wanted her boyfriend to feel at home and not like a guest in their shared space.
But when they broke up, everything changed. It was far from an amicable split and Michele made it clear that her ex was not welcome back in their flat. It was a difficult decision to make, but as she was estranged from her mother and her father had passed away, she needed the place more than he did.
Living alone was an adjustment for Michele. She missed having someone to talk to after a long day of work, or to share household responsibilities with. It was strange to only have herself to answer to and she took advantage of that by walking around naked, leaving dishes for days, and throwing clothes on the floor. It was her own little sanctuary. But in those first few months, she wasn't ready to confront her feelings about the break up.
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