Looking back, I see the strength I didn’t know I had then. I honor the girl in this photo, the one who gave everything for crumbs in return, the girl who thought she needed to prove her worth through love and self-abandonment, who was so terrified of going on alone with no one to turn to. -

It’s been about a year and a half since I walked away from a 2-year-long abusive relationship that shattered me and left me a total shell of myself. I’ve been reflecting, and it’s strange:

Before that experience, I craved a deep, unconditional, all-consuming connection; -