Love, Hurt, and Self-Worth

For you, love and hurt are intertwined. You constantly crave affection, only to be scarred in return. So, you learn to remain silent, no longer expressing yourself, and no longer listening to your inner voice. You gradually lose touch with your emotions—both afraid of intimacy and yearning for an embrace. You become distant, wavering between approaching and retreating.

You quietly ask yourself: "If I depend on you, will you hurt me?" "Am I worthy of this much care?" "If I need you too much, will I be even more afraid of you leaving?" After all, how can someone who has never been steadily loved easily believe that another person will stay for them? How can someone who has never truly experienced love learn to love tenderly?

But dear—this isn't your fault. It's just that the road you've traveled has been too lonely and too long. Please believe that love doesn't have just one form. You can still slowly learn to trust and accept, even if it only starts with loving yourself well. You'll reach that place where you no longer doubt your worthiness, and you'll eventually meet someone who no longer makes you doubt yourself.

Thank you for reading!