It's easy to point fingers when a relationship falls apart. I could list every way I was hurt, every line that was crossed, every time I felt unseen. But the truth is, I had to sit with myself and admit where I went wrong too. The times I shut down instead of speaking up. The moments I chose silence when I should've chosen honesty. The ways I let fear, pride, or stubbornness get in the way of connection.

That reflection wasn't comfortable, but it was necessary.

Because growth doesn't come from blaming someone else. It comes from owning the part you played and deciding you won't show up the same way again. I'm not carrying shame, I'm carrying awareness. And that awareness is what keeps me from repeating cycles that once broke me.