I've become distant from a lot of people—not because I'm bitter, but because I finally started to see things for what they are. I used to give so much of myself to people who wouldn't have even noticed if I stopped showing up. I cared deeply, checked in, made an effort-and slowly realized not everyone was doing the same. It hurts when you see how one-sided some connections really are, but peace feels better than forced energy. I'd rather sit alone with honesty than share a table full of fake smiles and hidden intentions. Distance doesn't mean I stopped caring—it just means I finally started caring for myself, too.