my silence protected other people's reputation while it ruined mine, so don't ever tell me how i should respond to the level of disrespect i've endured from them. people only saw the parts they wanted to see, while i carried the truth quietly on my own. i stayed silent to avoid more conflict, to protect people i once cared about, and to keep peace even when it was hurting me inside. but silence can become heavy after a while. it can slowly turn into pain, frustration, and exhaustion. i learned that protecting others should never mean destroying yourself in the process. sometimes, speaking up is not revenge, it is finally choosing to protect your own peace too.