“The Village Gays”

Breaking up with my long-term boyfriend was a real challenge. It wasn’t easy to let go of somebody with whom you had so much history but in all honesty, after everything that transpired, I had really reached my breaking point. Love shouldn’t bring pain, and yet, with him, it was just unbearable…

It wasn’t one bad event that tore us apart; rather, it was a gradual build-up of frustration and anger in my soul. I kept being patient until, one day, I just decided that I had enough.

Ending our relationship wasn’t easy – he refused to let me go -, but I knew that it was absolutely necessary for my sanity. Internally, I strongly believed that true love should be about happiness and support, and not the source of constant turmoil. I wanted to be with somebody who would support me through my hard days, and not make them even harder; and who could argue with me on that? Nobody. So, I decided to walk away and prioritize my well-being...

Obviously, like mentioned before, ending things with a person with whom you’ve shared so much of your life history, was incredibly difficult. The thought of never hugging him, taking walks together, dining together, and talking as easily as earlier was heart-wrenching... It made my heart constrict painfully, almost as if it wanted to implode from pain...

However, my pride was wounded to the point of no return, and at this point, my desire for emotional safety, freedom from constant arguing and identity preservation became stronger than my love for him; I just had to make the tough choice to walk away and protect myself. No matter how hard it was, sometimes, running away was the only option to keep sane.

Jôrut was a very difficult person to be with. Very often, he displayed rather selfish and unempathetic behavior, but to be fair, I couldn’t really blame him for it. He – just like me, after all – came from a humble background. Nobody taught him what was toxic and abusive, and so, how was he supposed to learn it? It wasn’t easy to look at one’s behavior and see flaws in it. Everyone was trying their best, to the fullest of their capabilities, and only others could admonish and show them their mistakes.

He treated me the same way he saw his parents and siblings treat each other, and for him, that behavior was considered “normal.”

Meanwhile, all of my friends believed that he was toxic, abusive and audacious; as for me, for a long time, I found myself stuck somewhere in between... I felt that Jôrut could benefit from some good therapy, but he was unwilling to seek professional help.

As a result, I ended up becoming his unofficial therapist, which generally had positive effects – as it helped him reflect, reach new conclusions and change – but it often came at my own expense. I found myself tolerating behaviors that I shouldn’t have, for far too long!

I had been extremely patient with him, but in all honesty, how much more suffering did I have to endure? I yearned for a relationship that I could escape to, not one that I needed to escape from... I craved comfort, as life was tough for me too.

The challenges of being an adult, and especially my financial problems, were already exhausting, and in the area of romance, I just wanted to relax.

In my dream vision of a flawless relationship, I would cuddle on the sofa with Mr. Perfect. No words were needed, we would just find comfort in the silence, and each other’s loving, revitalizing presence.

But instead, my life with Jôrut was filled with never-ending drama. I had managed to escape from a harmful, oppressive home, only to find myself trapped in an equally poisonous romantic relationship...

I dated Jôrut for a long time, so long that it was an incredibly challenging task to extricate myself from his grip. I had tried to break up with him, multiple times in the past, but it proved to be an arduous feat, since we lived together.

I moved out to stay with a friend, but he still pursued me. I realized that simply leaving wasn’t enough to stop him. And so, eventually, I made the decision to leave our small, suffocating village behind and start a new chapter in the capital, Nuuk. It was there that I finally found freedom.

Moving to a bigger city – I can’t say big, as Nuuk had a very small population in comparison to other core cities - was an exhilarating change for me. At last, I could start anew!

Nuuk was nestled on the rugged coast, and as such, it offered a unique blend of natural beauty and urban excitement. It boasted a thriving arts scene, with galleries showcasing the works of local artists and regular cultural events celebrating local traditions, and the breathtaking landscapes surrounding the city were a constant source of wonder. The glaciers, fjords, and mountains created a truly picturesque backdrop to it, one that never failed to leave me in awe. After moving there, I knew that exploring these natural wonders would become a cherished pastime - from hiking through the colorful tundra to taking boat trips to see majestic icebergs up close... I was used to the cold weather, it made me feel full of vigor.

In Nuuk, I would work at a company specializing in developing and promoting heating ovens that utilized bioethanols (such as sugarcane or corn) as an eco-friendly fuel source. The founder’s mission was to design ovens that minimized carbon emissions and reduced reliance on traditional heating methods such as coal. I was always interested in green living, and it was inspiring to be part of a team dedicated to finding sustainable solutions that aligned with the environmental preservation.

*

In my job, I had the pleasure of meeting Stene, a handsome colleague with a passion for outdoor adventures. It was during a company integration evening that I got to know him better and discovered his love for hiking - a passion that soon made us become good friends. The evening was organized at a local restaurant famous for its suaasat (traditional soup made with seal, whale, or reindeer meat, often cooked with potatoes and onions).

Our boss went all out and rented a large room just for our team, and it was a blast! The atmosphere was buzzing with laughter, good vibes, and a whole bunch of unique experiences.