I'm really glad I found this subreddit as it has helped me acknowledge my worth as a woman and why I should never, ever settle. I wanted to share my experience so hopefully others can learn from it.

I met my ex boyfriend last year on Tinder. I was only 20 and a virgin. I never had a boyfriend before. He was just a few years older than me. Nevertheless, he showered me with tons of affection and attention, and we had a lot in common, so I got roped in easily. Very early on, he kept trying to push sex on me instead of being patient and understanding knowing full well I had no sexual experience and felt uncomfortable with sexual touching. I wanted to take things slow.

Once, we were going for a walk, and every time he'd pull me in for a kiss, he would slide his hands up my shirt into my bra and and down my pants even though I made it known to him that I don't want him doing that. I would repeatedly pull away and tell him to stop, and he would laugh and do it again. I confronted him the next day over text, he apologized and promised he would never repeat that behavior again (lies).

Once we did start having sex, I had a very strict rule that he always wear a condom. Idgaf if it cuts his sensitivity in half. I don't want to get pregnant. And nor was I willing to put my body through birth control pills. Despite this, he would incessantly beg me to allow him to fuck me without a condom, promising to ''pull out'' even though I said no every single time. Once I had a pregnancy scare, and even after seeing how anxious I was, he would still beg for unprotected sex. Once I finally put my foot down and told him enough was enough, I asked how could he keep doing this after seeing how anxious I was when I had the pregnancy scare? He admitted he didn't take it seriously because he thought I'd just get an abortion. But guess what, he apologized, cried, and promised he would change. So I stayed because I loved him.

Think he started to magically respect my boundaries? Nope. Later on in the relationship, he actually penetrated me without a condom three times without ever asking for my consent! And when I expressed that I was in pain, he shushed me and told me to ''hold on''. A couple days later, I texted him because I was having immense anxiety thinking I'd get pregnant but also I confronted him about violating my boundaries and doing something without my consent. Shortly after, I found out he had actually cheated on me more than once and I dumped him.

Went to get tested for STDs and pregnancy right away and thankfully, I was in the clear. For so long, the emotional abuse he put me through really messed me up. For a long time, I blamed myself for not running away when he showed his lack of respect for me and my body very very early on int he relationship. I still take part responsibility for not taking care of myself and allowing someone to continuously mistreat me. But I also acknowledge that I was young, he was my first relationship experience, and I've learned my lesson.

I'll also have you know that many months after the breakup, I reported him for sexual assault. He got arrested last week and currently has a whopping three charges of sexual assault against him. The thing that saved my ass were the screenshots of me confronting him about all these things. If he thought he could get away with mistreating a woman then he was sadly mistaken because I am not a force to be reckoned with. So, ladies, the moment he disrespects your boundaries--haul ass. Doesn't matter how many times he apologizes or promises to change. He won't. They never do. The more chances you get them, the more they will test your limits to see what else you'll let them get away with.