I Didn’t Return to What Hurt Me

Dear Delyara, There are habits that don’t look like habits because they wear emotional disguises. Going back to people who confuse you. Giving second, third, eighth chances because loneliness makes poor arguments sound reasonable. Translating crumbs into possibility. Reopening wounds because familiarity feels safer than emptiness. I didn’t do that this time. I let the ache be the ache and didn’t turn it into a doorway. That matters more than anyone knows.