Dear You Who Thought Possession Meant Protection,
#MistakenAffection #ControlIsNotCare
You believed the way they checked on you constantly51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJpuRlm7u22
meant they loved you deeply.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdFWzJuPzVv
That the way they asked where you were,51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Gms4eIkEc
who you were with,51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc5uTisV1qi
what you were doing51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFmPnRkBT40
—all the time—51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3BMnIzL3om
meant you mattered.
And when they got angry when you didn't reply fast enough...51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5bQ9RUPma5
You told yourself,51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGezRiXle1R
At least someone wants me.
You didn't see it then, but I know now—51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFy22qfxE4i
that wasn't care.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxovCtGZ3uI
That was fear dressed up as affection.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDHiZb1nq33
That was insecurity, not love.
You were so desperate to be seen51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUKIWMfsHs1
that you didn't notice how their gaze became a cage.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzdttDA4t9e
So eager to be needed51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡky3i07QmgJ
that you called their control "attention."51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS4iiLD5KjZ
So used to shrinking51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡadW2jRBvv9
that you confused silence with safety.
You thought love was about sacrifice,51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRmPcQRSnUr
so you gave up your freedom,51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMFvs1Y9Q0v
your voice,51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU1DwahpQL2
your boundaries.
But listen to me:51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCBu3AzQbdu
Real love doesn't suffocate.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEcGyEGY75r
It doesn't monitor you like a prisoner.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCWGRsJ5OB2
It doesn't guilt you into obedience,51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXQk9v0Eq21
doesn't twist your independence into betrayal.
You were a teenager learning to love,51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLRvlplweQ4
but no one taught you51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvPnEMvcysF
that love shouldn't hurt your sense of self.
They made you believe51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtrArBOzJ9F
jealousy was flattering51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ66uyqz7MKb
and control was protection.
But you survived that illusion.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuQOZpVP4Jt
And now you know better.
You are not someone to be managed.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ983mGz2t2Z
You are someone to be trusted.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzVfhNjPNKs
You are not a possession to be held tight—51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjG4ba43Vtt
you are a person to be held gently.
They didn't love you.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdStlXEGAMM
They just didn't want to lose their grip.
And you?51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡorPhDrMgj0
You don't need to be held like that ever again.
With strength that came too late but never too little,51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOykDzWoNGs
—From the you who now knows the difference between being caged and being cherished
51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡClhGiJO2HA
