"When we first established our 'friends with benefits' relationship on January 1st, 1973, I foolishly believed all of the promises you made to me about our happy union together, but during the past forty three years, your naked desire to have all of me without giving back anything of substance in return has finally opened my eyes. You deceived me wilfully throughout. You have stripped me of everything I was brought up to cherish, everything my father and grandfather fought for during two World Wars.
During the years we have been together, you have bullied and brow beaten me to abandon all of my ways and adopt yours. You have treated any innocent association I have ever dared to have with another with the jealous and punitive response of a control freak; reminding me constantly that without you, I am nothing and could not exist, and threatening me with all manner of fearful threats should I ever try to leave you.
When I think back upon our relationship, I have to conclude that during the whole of the past 43 years we have never really been together. All that has happened is that you have done your own thing, irrespective of what I've wanted and just expected me to tag along behind you like a grateful and obedient partner.
During these years of union, you have done everything to increase my dependency on you. Fearful that I might one day run away from you at the first opportunity, you have removed all my protective garments. You have stripped me of my sovereignty, my independence, my national pride, my basic rights and my freedom to choose my own destiny.
I'm having no more of this failed marriage! I'm having no more of you! I want out! I'm LEAVING you, you bully!"
https://youtu.be/UVzXVmoOGjQ
William Forde: June 23rd, 2016.