I’ve had past partners accuse me of selfishness, and I’m aware of my faults. You’ve taught me how to disconnect and protect my heart, I preferred lovers who burned me – a sadistic nature to love someone who reminds me of you. Making this realization, I’ve grown to turn away from the triggers rather than run towards them. I will eventually forgive you, I’m trying, I’m trying to let go. I’m trying to not hate you for not loving me the way I wanted, for hurting me, and making me believe it was my own fault for having expectations – maybe it was. But through it all, you’ve given me strength in learning to live without you, the ability to recognize what didn’t want in a partner, not feeling obligated to stick around for the people, and the compassion for a man who didn’t learn love in his lifetime.