Inside a community legal clinic, a year of de-identified files reveals why many women choose to leave a marriage. The story follows early cracks that show up together. Emotional disconnection, infidelity, verbal or emotional abuse, money strain, unequal labor, and trust that no longer holds. By summer the pressure deepens with new layers. Addiction, control framed as care, intimacy that fades, neglect, parenting conflict, untreated mental health, and interference from family. A brief burst of good weeks often appears, then fades again. Quiet preparation begins. Safety plans, documents copied, a small fund, two trusted contacts, and professional support. Autumn brings the final cluster that tips decisions. Career imbalance, broken communication loops, unmet expectations, fear of staying stuck, loss of respect, and a steady pull toward self discovery. Some couples repair with practice that lasts. Others separate with clear steps and stabilize. The lesson is simple. Promises matter only when they become practice.