Many readers have experienced the exhaustion of being the only one trying in a relationship, making the payoff of a balanced ending more satisfying.
One character is the sole provider of support, while the other is often distant, unavailable, or struggling with personal trauma.
Unlike a "two-legged" relationship where both partners carry the weight equally, a one-legged relationship features one person doing all the emotional, logistical, or romantic "heavy lifting." Key Dynamics in "One-Leg" Storylines