In the end you sit with yourself

And at the end of it all, you sit with yourself in silence with a thousand thoughts racing.

You begin to understand why and how. You begin to cry, not out of sadness but out of relief. Relief that you finally get it, you get you. And you will do whatever it takes to protect you from allowing you to ever choose a path that doesn't value you.

It's not easy, but you get it know. You forgive yourself and you take a step forward, no more allowing those who hurt you to have a place or space in your new re-found self.