I’m going to give you another chance — but that doesn’t mean you’re forgiven for everything you’ve done. It doesn’t mean you’re getting off easy. You’re still going to have to take responsibility for your actions. You’re still going to have to make things up to me.

I’m going to give you another chance — but that doesn’t mean you can go right back to acting immature and irresponsible. These second chances aren’t eternal. They’re limited. This is the only one you’re going to get, so don’t think you can walk all over me without getting in any trouble. Don’t think you’re going to get a free pass on the mistakes you make in the future simply because you’re getting one this time. If you hurt me again, I’m gone. If you screw with me, it’s over.

I’m giving you another chance — but that doesn’t mean everything is cool between us. It doesn’t mean our relationship is going to return to exactly the way it was before you hurt me. If you want the truth, our relationship is never going to be the same. I’m going to be cautious of you moving forward. I’m going to be suspicious. I’m not going to trust you the same way I used to trust you. I’m not going to look at you the same way either.

Now that I know what you’re capable of doing to me, I’m going to keep a little bit of distance to protect myself, to make sure you don’t get away with the same nonsense a second time. If you give me even the smallest reason to walk away, then I’m not going to hesitate to take my second chance away. At this point, you can’t blame me for being skittish. You can’t blame me for booking it if you hurt me again, even a smidge.

I’m giving you another chance — but that doesn’t mean every bad thing that happened between us is getting put in the past. I’m not magically going to forget what you’ve done. The hurtful words you’ve said are lodged in my mind. The bad memories are just as strong as the good ones. I’m willing to stop holding a grudge over your mistakes, but that doesn’t mean I’ve forgiven you for them. It doesn’t mean they’ve stopped taunting me late at night, making me feel inferior and inadequate. It doesn’t mean what you’ve done was okay after all. Even though I’m sticking around, I want you to remember you really screwed up. You really hurt me. You really left a scar.

I’m giving you another chance — but that doesn’t mean we’re going to live happily ever after. I’m trying to accept what you’ve done to me, but I can’t promise I’ll never bring it up again. I can’t promise I’m completely over it, completely fine, because I’m not. I’m still aching. I’m still upset.

I’m giving you another chance — so please don’t waste it. Please don’t make me feel like an idiot for trusting you again. Please treat me right this time around because you’re not going to get a third chance. This is it.