I left my hometown for a guy, like Taylor Swift. But when we broke up, saying goodbye to the town was even harder.

When Taylor Swift released her new album, The Tortured Poet's Department, she opened up about the heartbreak she experienced after her relationship with Joe Alwyn ended. In one of her songs, So Long London, she talks about the pain of moving to a new city and country for someone she loved, only to have to leave again after they broke up. It's a feeling that many of us can relate to - the daunting feeling of starting over in a strange place after a breakup.

But what happens when you don't have the luxury of a private jet to fly you back home? The Agency spoke to two women who not only had to move on from their partners, but also from the cities they had made their homes.

Aiofe Jones, a 31-year-old Irish book blogger, had been living in Dortmund, Germany for a year when she met her then-boyfriend. They were together for three years and had even started looking for a place to live together. But things took a turn when Aiofe noticed a change in her partner's behavior. She tells The Agency, "He had never seemed keen about it, but I had gotten to the point where we needed to make some form of step forward or it was done." Despite her doubts, her boyfriend convinced her to stay and they continued their search for a new home. However, just three weeks later, he suddenly changed his mind and revealed that he had been planning to end the relationship for a long time. Aiofe was left alone in a foreign town, with most of her friends having already moved back home, and the pandemic making it even more difficult to cope.

Hollie-Anne Brooks, a 34-year-old disabled journalist, also had to leave her home in Wivenhoe, Colchester after her long-term relationship ended. Despite ending things amicably with her ex, she still found it hard to leave the place where she had learned to walk again and had a supportive community. She moved to a flat share in the next town, and eventually to Suffolk to be with her current partner. While she was initially reluctant to move again, she now enjoys the slower pace and close-knit community in her new home.

According to Kendra Capalbo, a licensed couples therapist, self-reflection is crucial after a breakup. This can help individuals decide whether to move again or focus on other aspects of their new life. She explains, "This involves taking the time to sit down and deeply contemplate the lessons learned from the relationship - understanding your desires and non-negotiables in future relationships and recognizing areas that require personal growth before moving forward."

Both Aiofe and Hollie-Anne agree that moving on from a partner and a location can be challenging, but it's important to remember that our identity is not tied to a specific place. As Hollie-Anne puts it, "We're still the same people no matter where you drop us in the world." It's all about taking the time to reflect, heal, and focus on personal growth before moving forward.

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