I stayed too long because leaving felt like failing

We looked good from the outside. Everyone kept telling me how lucky I was. Inside, I was shrinking — walking on eggshells, apologising for things that weren't mine to apologise for, slowly forgetting who I was before.

I stayed because of what people would say. Because of the questions. Because we're taught that a relationship ending is something you failed at, not something you survived.

Leaving was the hardest and best thing I've done. If you're in something that makes you smaller, I want you to know: choosing yourself is not selfish, and it is not failure.