s a d n e s s

They might abuse you sometimes, but also be sweet or kind to you at other times.

They might protect you from others who would do things to you that are just as abusive (or worse).

They might sometimes make you feel good, or loved.

They might twist things enough where it feels like love when they abuse you.

All of these things can make abuse very confusing. They might make you question whether you are “really” being abused. They might cause you to have conflicting emotions about your abuser.

It’s valid to struggle with this. This confusion is often caused very intentionally and carefully by an abuser.

You don’t just deserve kindness sometimes. You deserve it all the time. Someone doesn’t have to abuse you all the time to be abusive to you.

We drew apart, we were consumed in the darkness of the trees…