Sorry, this might be a bit long.
I (42F) have been with my boyfriend (33M) for four years, and we’ve lived together for the past two years. Our lease is up in about a week and a half, and I’ve made the decision to move out after discovering he cheated on me—with his best friend.
For context, his best friend, “Tina” (34F), was his roommate before he and I got together. She was still in the picture when we decided to move in together. Before our relationship turned romantic, he and I were friends for eight years. During that time, anytime Tina called, he’d drop everything to help her. Tina, to put it bluntly, has always struggled with adulting. She’s the type to solve her problems by rotating through two or three different guys a week. (No judgment—just stating the facts.)
Over the years, I occasionally doubted their relationship. It felt too close. But he always reassured me that they were just friends, and I trusted him.
Two months ago, everything unraveled. He’d been acting distant and secretive, and my gut told me something was wrong. One night, I went through his phone. I found their exchanges, which confirmed my worst fears. When I confronted him, he admitted he’d slept with Tina. He called it a “one-time mistake,” said he regretted it, and begged me to forgive him. He insisted it “didn’t mean anything,” but the texts told a different story—there were messages from just the day before.
He wants me to stay and work things out, but I can’t. The betrayal is too much. I feel humiliated. He didn’t just cheat—he cheated with someone who lived in our home, shared meals with me, confided in me during heart-to-heart talks, and pretended to be my friend. She even reassured me about my insecurities regarding their closeness. (It’s always the ones they tell you not to worry about, isn’t it?)
I’ve made my decision: I’m done. I’ve signed a lease for a new apartment, arranged for movers, and I plan to leave next week. I haven’t told him yet, and I don’t plan to until I’m gone. Since he leaves for work before I do, my plan is to pack everything and move out while he’s at work. I’ll leave a letter explaining my decision.
Here’s where I might be the asshole. I know he can’t afford this place—or a new one—without me. He’s been struggling financially, and my moving out will make things very difficult for him. But I’m not responsible for fixing his situation, especially after what he did.
Some friends think I’m completely justified, saying he made his bed and now he has to lie in it. My sister, however, says I’m being cruel by not giving him a heads-up so he can make arrangements. Personally, I don’t feel like he deserves my sympathy. He can have my middle finger instead. 🤷🏾♀️
Oh, and for those wondering—Tina doesn’t live here anymore either.
So, Reddit, AITA for moving out without telling my cheating boyfriend, knowing he can’t afford this place or a new one on his own?