Dear You Who Thought Possession Meant Protection,
#MistakenAffection #ControlIsNotCare
You believed the way they checked on you constantly47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9sP5eHJ9WQ
meant they loved you deeply.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSBInRJJrh5
That the way they asked where you were,47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLgVVmdblrl
who you were with,47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPXkQeEelJQ
what you were doing47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW0mu0TGMqw
—all the time—47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJKhGcGHoEt
meant you mattered.
And when they got angry when you didn't reply fast enough...47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvbZbT6yBZ1
You told yourself,47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm1WZbWRNg2
At least someone wants me.
You didn't see it then, but I know now—47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ95mVRmDOZU
that wasn't care.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfoXW1f29RO
That was fear dressed up as affection.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR1EnrpRIPG
That was insecurity, not love.
You were so desperate to be seen47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbOPgqwPviU
that you didn't notice how their gaze became a cage.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHyrLrJ5hue
So eager to be needed47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf3Jr01DGlN
that you called their control "attention."47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnFmQQrwPc6
So used to shrinking47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3DG1eTSFce
that you confused silence with safety.
You thought love was about sacrifice,47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwJcM11uk1X
so you gave up your freedom,47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5fpzOtkaHF
your voice,47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeNezS8iKX7
your boundaries.
But listen to me:47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx18UibRiEP
Real love doesn't suffocate.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP1azT46aMx
It doesn't monitor you like a prisoner.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNMhsIhjlRf
It doesn't guilt you into obedience,47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYO1atfFFfe
doesn't twist your independence into betrayal.
You were a teenager learning to love,47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6jg74NCTR0
but no one taught you47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbWA5qHlokp
that love shouldn't hurt your sense of self.
They made you believe47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxXgxkx6UuI
jealousy was flattering47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4SwaWLX51J
and control was protection.
But you survived that illusion.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrNBvR0QdGY
And now you know better.
You are not someone to be managed.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZrzPzBDZu8
You are someone to be trusted.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT05U0kmoOj
You are not a possession to be held tight—47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqmRUQ36ayo
you are a person to be held gently.
They didn't love you.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ21jvpb6ZBM
They just didn't want to lose their grip.
And you?47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk6NyFF2fHt
You don't need to be held like that ever again.
With strength that came too late but never too little,47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPkB81hQNiR
—From the you who now knows the difference between being caged and being cherished
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ZtQEJIjmM
