They Hurt Me, Then Blamed Me for Leaving: Some people will hurt you, ignore your feelings, cross your boundaries, and then act surprised when you finally walk away. Instead of reflecting on their actions, they focus on your reaction. They make it seem as though your decision to leave is worse than the pain that made you leave in the first place. Somehow, the person who was hurt becomes the one expected to apologize. What makes it even harder is when they try to use guilt as a bridge back into your life. They remind you of the good moments, question your forgiveness, or make you feel responsible for their disappointment. But accountability and guilt are not the same thing. Being compassionate does not mean you have to reopen doors that cost you your peace. I have learned that protecting myself is not cruelty. Walking away from what hurt me is not selfish. And refusing to carry guilt for a wound I did not create is one of the greatest acts of self-respect I can give myself. Sometimes the healthiest thing you can do is stop feeling bad for choosing yourself.