A Story of Possessiveness and Freedom in Love: "The Truth of Letting Go"

“Letting go is not giving up; it’s accepting that some things aren’t meant to be.”

Pugal was just 16 when he experienced what many would call his first real love. It started in the 10th grade, full of excitement and innocence, where everything seemed simple and pure. Pugal admired the way her eyes sparkled when she smiled, how they would share moments that felt like the world stopped around them. In the beginning, their bond was unbreakable, and togetherness was the only thing that mattered.

But over time, things began to change. Pugal’s feelings, once pure and free, became possessive. He found himself unable to let go of the idea that she was his, that no one could take her away from him. His love was more about control than care. He always wanted to be with her, always wanted to know where she was, who she was talking to. He would check her social media and ask where she was going, pushing boundaries she never asked for.

She didn’t mind at first—after all, it was a small price to pay for love. But as time went on, she started to feel suffocated. She loved him, yes, but the constant surveillance and possessiveness wore her down. She began to feel like she was living for him, doing things only to please him, hiding parts of herself to avoid triggering his insecurities.

One evening, they ended their day with a happy “goodbye” as they always did. She sounded fine, they were both happy. But that night, when Pugal was already asleep, she sent him a voice message—a long, tear-filled message expressing her unhappiness. “I love you, but I can’t live like this,” she said, in a voice that trembled with emotion. She wrote a long paragraph on WhatsApp, explaining how his possessiveness made her feel trapped and unappreciated, but she never mentioned the words “break up.” She still loved him, but the way he was treating her, the way he was controlling her, was making her suffocate.

The next morning, Pugal woke up to the message, his heart sinking as he listened to her tears. She was in pain, and he was the reason. For a brief moment, he thought, “I can change, I’ll fix this.” But he wasn’t completely confident—he wasn’t sure if he could let go of his need to control. He didn’t know if he could be the man she needed him to be. And deep down, he understood that what she needed wasn’t him, but freedom from the suffocating relationship they had built.

That morning, Pugal made a difficult decision. He sent her a message, apologizing, acknowledging that his possessiveness was unhealthy, and telling her that he was letting go. It was one of the hardest things he’d ever done, but he knew it was for the best. She deserved more than he could offer in that moment.

Five years have passed since then, and though it hurt at first, Pugal now understands that leaving was the right decision. He can see now that letting go of toxic relationships is never easy, but it’s the only way for both people to heal and grow. The love they once shared was real, but sometimes, love alone isn’t enough when unhealthy attachments cloud it.

“Sometimes, the most painful goodbyes are the ones that set us free.”