The subtle sign that your relationship is ‘doomed’ — long before it’s over

The internet is convinced there’s one telltale sign your relationship is already over (Picture: Getty Images) You round the corner of your street and see your partner’s car parked in the driveway. How do you feel? If the answer is dread or disappointment, rather than pleasure and excitement, we’ve got bad news: your relationship may be doomed. That’s the lastest theory circulating the internet, after Reddit users discussed the ‘first tiny sign that a relationship was ending, even though everything still seemed normal’. ‘Being upset to see their car when you get home,’ one person said, while someone else chimed in: ‘Feeling a sense of “on no” when you hear your SO’s car pull up in the driveway.’ They added: ‘Or, coming home and sitting in the car, savouring those last moments of alone time while bracing for whatever attitude awaits you inside the house.’ Someone else admitted to getting off the bus a few stops early, to delay their arrival at home. ‘I realised my relationship was doomed when I’d do this and spend up to an hour walking, just so I could mentally prepare myself for getting home,’ they said. Ouch. Now, not all of us drive or own cars (particularly in cities like London), but the sentiment can still apply even if you’re without a parking spot. You’ll see a light glowing from the street, or the gate ajar, and feel deflated. But does it always spell the end of a relationship? Car in the driveway getting you pressed? It’s not good news (Picture: Getty Images) Sex and relationship expert Annabelle Knight explains it’s usually a sign something isn’t ‘quite right’, but it doesn’t always mean it’s curtains. Ask Metro Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about – powered by Metro and trusted publications. She tells Metro: ‘The reaction to this specific scenario is likely to do with wanting to spend some time alone at home – particularly after a hard day at work, for example. ‘If you are anticipating or planning to spend time on your own, and this is unexpectedly taken away from you, this can be frustrating. ‘That’s not to say that wanting to spend time alone is a sign your relationship is failing, but in a healthy partnership, this should be something that you are able to communicate to your partner, rather than becoming upset or frustrated when this is thwarted.’ You might also see a light on from outside, and feel dread (Picture: Getty Images) Annabelle, from Lovehoney, reckons this response doesn’t always suggest things between you and your partner are terminal – but it does warrant a conversation, or an internal interrogation as to why you’re having these thoughts. ‘If it’s because you’re frustrated that you can’t spend some time alone, then you need to communicate this before resentment builds up and it does end up in a breakdown of the relationship,’ she says. Deals of the Day This Hoover vacuum is a game-changer for pet owners and muddy homes See London's Christmas lights from an open-top double-decker bus this winter The skincare formula that finally took the guesswork out of my routine Families can save up to 20% on summer 2027 holidays in Club Med's four-day sale Cold mornings are coming and this is the dressing gown I want to live in And if your reaction is closer to panic than annoyance, it’s almost certainly time to consider if you’d be happier after a breakup. Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@metro.co.uk Arrow MORE: I enjoyed every minute of my night of wild sex – now it’s coming back to haunt me Arrow MORE: Wicker’s ‘simple’ dirty talk trick that has women swooning Arrow MORE: We fell in love 16 months after his wife died – then rumours started The Hook Up Metro's hottest newsletter, with juicy stories and tips for spicing things up in the bedroom. 18+