Bend, Don’t Break: How I Survived The Hardest Year Of My Life

A year ago today, my apartment door slammed shut. For as long as I live, I don’t think I’ll ever be able to forget that sound. Just seconds before the devastating thud of the door, I had chased after my boyfriend, jumped in front of him to block the exit, and kissed him one last time. Then I flopped back onto my bed and sobbed as his Uber sped away.

I know what this sounds like: a breakup. It wasn’t. Let me explain:

About a year before the slamming door, I met my boyfriend for the first time. He was…