I'd Prefer People Not to Pretend to My Face: I'd prefer people not to pretend to my face. If your energy has changed, let it change. If your opinion of me is different, let it be different. If you don't like me, that's your right. What I cannot understand is acting one way in my presence and another when I am gone. There is something exhausting about discovering that the kindness, respect, or support you thought was real was only temporary performance. I do not expect everyone to like me, agree with me, or even understand me. But I do value honesty. I'd rather know where I stand than be comforted by words that hold no truth behind them. Pretending may protect feelings for a moment, but sincerity protects trust. At the end of the day, authenticity means more to me than approval ever will. So be real with me. I can respect honesty, even when it is difficult. What I struggle to respect is a mask that only falls when I leave the room.