Many smart people stay in marriages they know are failing. The fear of loneliness does that. It creeps into choices that look logical from the outside but feel like quiet panic from the inside. It pushes people to hold on long after the relationship stops functioning. And it convinces them that staying is safer than starting over. This fear of loneliness shapes more lives than most admit, and it keeps capable, thoughtful adults in places they never meant to stay. Here’s what is behind this trend.
