I had planned ahead and quietly booked a room at another hotel. I left without a word, canceling all remaining bookings under my name, and switched the charges to Kyle’s card. I posted a picture on Instagram, declaring that some vacations are meant to be solo.

When I returned home, I found Kyle’s things packed on the doorstep with a note saying we were done. His family blamed me for “ruining the trip,” but I didn’t care. A week later, my boss called to inform me that a resort co-owner had seen me dining alone, impressed by how I handled myself. This led to a bigger bonus and a leadership role on a major project.Leaving Kyle opened a door to a better life, and this time, I was only packing for myself.