The end of any relationship can be rather painful, but what makes it worse is the monogamous expectation that romantic relationships should last forever. Encoded into mainstream understandings of romantic relationships are lofty promises that for a relationship to be successful people need to commit to one another no matter what. Mainstream relationship advice often quips “If you’re not dating to marry, you’re dating to break up” as if short-term relationships lack value. The goal of dating for many people is marriage which includes “til death do us part” vows. While the underlying vow to be together through tough times helps create an aura of security for some; we can’t ignore how those words cast breakups as not only failures but as broken promises.