I ended my relationship with my girlfriend because she doesn’t look after herself properly—she doesn’t even use basic personal hygiene products.

Diary Entry

Im still a bachelor at 45. Fifteen years ago, I was married to a remarkable womanMargaret. I call her lady not just out of respect, but because she truly embodied it. Margaret always looked immaculate; her nails were perfectly manicured, she wore that delicate lily-of-the-valley scent, and her skin always appeared radiant and healthy. Her figure was stunningreally, flawless. She seemed years younger than her actual age. There was always something aristocratic about herher dress sense, always tasteful and stylish, the way she carried herself with such understated grace. Ill never forget how she would glide across a room, her movements almost balletic, her posture dignified.

Looking back, I got used to women like Margaretproud, elegant, the lionesses of England. We parted ways because our personalities clashed. Its just life, isnt it? It happens sometimes. Since the divorce, I havent had any serious relationships. I spent nights with various women in hotels, or occasionally rented a flat for the evening, simply for the sake of my wellbeing, as the saying goes. But I always had fears about getting involved again. After all these years, I worried that things could fall apart.

Yet fate always has its own agenda, doesnt it? Out of nowhere, it brought Emma into my life. I wasnt looking for a relationship, but there she wasstanding in front of me at a gallery opening in London. She wasnt Margaret, not exactly; but she had her own appeala touch of that aristocratic bearing combined with sharp wit and sarcasm. Emma was the sort of woman who drew you in not only by her looks but by her intelligence. Honestly, intelligence is the most seductive attribute a woman can possess.

We saw each other for a couple of months. Usually, shed visit me at my flat. Then one day, we decided to meet at hers. I made preparationsbought her favourite lilies, brought a decent bottle of Chardonnay, and some candles. When I arrived, her place was beautifully furnished, very stylish. Then I found myself needing the bathroom. What I saw caught me off guard.

Her bathroom shelves were barrenjust a basic bottle of shower gel and cheap shampoo. Nothing luxurious, no creams, no perfumes. For me, that was startling. Ive always believed that a woman who takes care of herself shows a certain self-love. If a woman surrounds herself with self-care products, she values herself. Thats the kind of woman I admire, the one you instinctively want to cherish.

Emma wasnt like that. I left abruptly, realising she wasnt the right fit for me. Now, with some reflection, I doubt Ill ever meet another lioness like Margaret. Perhaps its better to be alone than to compromise. Thats life, isnt it? So be it.