Why are my braces taking so long?

I have a serious question its pretty sad but I’ve had my braces on for 7 years. Yeah a looonnng time, but its because it would break or I’ll break them by accident and I wouldn’t go straight to my orthodontist. So my teeth have gotten straighter but I still have my overbite :[ and I hate it. my right side of my teeth are still kinda up lifted but I’ve been wearing my rubber bands so thats now gone but my teeth aren’t straight like id imagine.them to be by now and now my orthodontist is telling me that my braces will come off soon but I don’t know if hes just saying that because I’ve been there for a while and they need to get rid of me or is it really because my teeth are done and straight. and he said with the retainer it will get better but what the heck. The retainer will only make sure they stay in contact with eachother .. or noo? Well anyone smart tell me some advice if not don’t write nothing at all.

-anonymous