break up with

To raise awareness of the signs of controlling relationships, Ms Cecchettin’s family recently shared a list she wrote a few months before her death, titled “15 reasons I had to break up with him”.

She also said "red flags" about his controlling behaviour were not recognised until it was too late and she had not realised the "emotional turmoil" Holly was being put through when trying to break up with MacPhail.

Ms Trussler said it was clear her "caring and thoughtful" daughter had been more mature than MacPhail but when she had tried to break up with him, he had used "emotional blackmail" and scared Holly.

He also is openly disdainful of Marissa’s military service, and tells her he’d break up with her if she reenlisted.

Even if you know you should break up with a romantic partner, that doesn’t mean all the positive feelings you have about them automatically go away, or that a split won’t bring some pain.