It’s not okay to lie to people just because you’re confused and you’re looking for a way out. It’s not okay to tell them that you love them or that you’ll never leave or that you’ll always be there when you know deep inside your heart that you can’t do any of that. It’s not okay to tell people that they’re special and then treat them like they don’t matter and it’s not okay to promise that you will love them forever when you’re in love with someone else.

It’s not okay to manipulate people into loving you. It’s not okay to fabricate stories and lie about your life just so they can stick around or feel sorry for you and try to fix whatever they can. It’s not okay to tell people you need them when you don’t even care about losing them. It’s not okay to break people just because you’re broken and you haven’t yet healed.

Because at the end of the day people appreciate those who can be genuine with them, those who truly value their presence and their company, those who show up during the difficult times and those who care about the little details in their lives out of love, not out of spite. It’s not okay to pretend that you are interested in someone’s story and then leave after they open up to you and tell you everything. It’s not okay to cut people open and leave them to bleed alone.

It’s not okay to break people so you can feel whole. It’s not okay to wound them over and over again because you refuse to heal. It’s not okay to hurt people repeatedly and ask them to understand because your life is messy. It’s not okay to expect people to help you clean up the mess you created if you don’t intend to change.

And if you plan on doing all of that, then don’t be surprised when people run, when they leave, when they no longer want to be associated with you. Don’t be surprised if they wake up one day releasing all the toxic thoughts you fed them and all the pain you caused them. Don’t be surprised if they start choosing themselves or putting themselves first the way you always did. Don’t be surprised if you wake up one day all alone because you pushed away everyone who ever truly loved you and gave them every reason not to return.

It’s not okay to break people and expect them to keep loving you. It’s not okay to break people because people are already broken and if you can’t help them heal, if you can’t at least try to mend some of the broken pieces, then leave. Don’t ask them to love you if you can’t love them back and don’t expect them to stay when all you do is let them down.

It’s not okay to break people just because you’re broken and it’s not okay to underestimate their ability to leave when they’ve had enough.