Once you’ve been separated from someone toxic for a while, the reasons you left might start to blur and fade. Your bad memories of them might become hazier. You might only remember the good times. How much fun you used to have together. How much you laughed. How much you loved them.
Even though it’s okay to look back on happy memories and smile, you don’t want to start missing them too much. You don’t want to start wondering whether it was a mistake to leave.
Don’t forget why you walked away from someone toxic. Don’t let yourself walk right back into their world. Don’t give them the chance to hurt you all over again.
Remember why you walked away in the first place. Remember why you decided your love for them was not enough reason to stay. Remember why you put yourself first for a change.
Even though it’s been months, or maybe years, since they hurt you, it doesn’t mean they deserve another chance. Even though you might not feel any pain right now, it doesn’t change what they’ve done in the past.
You don’t have to be over it by now. You don’t have to act like what they did was okay.
Please, even on the nights when you’re missing them, don’t make excuses to contact them. Don’t convince yourself one little text wouldn’t be the end of the world — because one text will turn into two and three and four. Don’t convince yourself they’re probably more mature now either, because you might be wrong.
Do you really want to take the risk history is going to repeat itself? Even if they have changed for the better since you’ve last seen them, do you really want to settle for someone who was comfortable with hurting you, even once? Do you really want to jump back into such a toxic cycle?
Walking away the first time was hard. A second time would be even harder, so don’t put yourself in that position. You’ve been doing okay living without them for a while. You can continue forward. You can do this. You can be happy without them.
Don’t forget why you walked away from someone toxic. Don’t forget all of the nights you stayed up crying over them, all of the days when your throat went raw from screaming at them. Don’t forget what they put you through. Don’t forget how unsure and insecure they made you feel.
You deserve so much better, so don’t forget why you walked away from someone toxic. Don’t talk yourself into believing it was a bad decision.
Even though you might think walking away from them is the hardest thing you’ll ever have to do, sometimes staying away from them is even harder. That’s why you have to remember those bad times. Remember those arguments. Remember that pain.
Even though it hurts to think about, it’s a reminder that you did the right thing. It’s a reminder that you should never get back together with them. It’s a reminder you’re better off without them weighing you down.
