You can string me along as an almost. You can act like I mean something to you and then turn around and start dating someone else. You can make me feel like a backup plan, like a second choice, like a just in case.

You can walk out of my world without a glance back. You can ignore my texts. You can block my social media. You can leave without offering me an ounce of closure, an explanation about why you did what you have done.

You can make me dampen my pillowcase with tears. You can make me pound my steering wheel in rage. You can make me question every moment shared, every kiss swapped. You can break my heart — but you can’t break my soul.

I might be upset for a few weeks, maybe even months after you walk away from me, but I will find happiness again.

I might wonder whether there is something wrong with me, whether I did something to push you away, whether it’s my fault you left, but I will find peace with myself again.

I might feel like my world is ending without you in it, I might wish on stars you would change your mind and come running back for longer than I would ever admit, but I will be okay again.

You might have the power to break my heart, but you are never going to be able to break my soul. You are never going to stop me from moving forward, from conquering my past, from healing from my pain.

You can be the reason I swear off love for a little while. You can be the reason I feel bad about myself for a few  weeks — but you can’t stop me from rising above this heartache in the end. I’m not going to glorify our relationship. I’m not going to pretend you were perfect for me. I’m not blind. I see the way you treated me. I’m not going to keep chasing after you when you’re not interested in being caught. I’m going to let you go. I’m going to accept you aren’t meant to be mine. I’m going to move on.

You can act like you couldn’t care less about me, like I don’t mean anything to you, like you’re happier without me — but you can’t convince me I’m unlovable because I know the truth. I have a soft, giving heart. I have a lot to offer. Just because you were unable to see my worth doesn’t mean it’s not there. I am valuable. I am worthy of happiness, of effort, of love. And I am going to find it one day with someone else, with someone worthier than you.

You can break my heart into pieces — but you can’t stop me from gluing them back together again. You can’t stop me from falling in love again. You can’t stop me from finding someone else, someone who treats me better than you ever have, someone who wants a real, committed relationship with me and only me.