into a shadow of her former self

He changed so much once we moved in together, once the novelty of facing each other across the breakfast table every morning wore thin. Little by little he wore down my defences and wore down my own personality. The few friends who didn’t desert me watched me change from a girl sure of her direction into a shadow of her former self. I felt worthless and unsure of myself. Finally I realised I had to get out. So desperate to leave I walked away with nothing—not even my self-respect.