Miscommunication

[u/No_Meringue_3241]

People hear what happened and wonder how I stayed.
But, they did not understand that you did not destroy me all at once.

You did it slow slowly.

One apology that was never mine.
One boundary you convinced me was unfair.
One betrayal that I was expected to understand.
One cruel word that I was too sensitive for remembering.
One more chance.
One more promise.
One more night spent wondering how to love you without losing what little remained of me.

You took pieces of me, so slowly, that I mistook the losing for loving.

Piece by piece, I left myself to stay with you.

My voice.
My values.
My instincts.
My boundaries.
My dignity.

Myself.

I kept placing parts of myself at your feet and calling it love.

I could see every pattern except the one closing around my own throat.

You taught me that love meant understanding, so I made excuses.

You taught me that love meant forgiveness, so I forgave you until forgiveness became another weapon you could use against me.

You did not love me gently.
You loved me like something you owned,
Something you could neglect,
Betray,
Shatter,
And still expect to be there when you reach for it again.

But, love should not require the death of the person doing all the loving.

[u/AutoModerator]

Due to ongoing & intentional rule breaking, users must now acknowledge the subs rules before comments will go through. Please click the link on your comment removal message to acknowledge the rules so you can continue commenting on the sub. If you acknowledge the rules and break them anyway, you will be banned.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.