Just plain toxic!

It all started when I was in the middle of a rocky relationship, that phase where you’re just not sure if things can be saved. And that’s when he walked in (Dran)—seemingly perfect, just the right blend of mystery and charm, always smelling great, with a sense of humor that kept me smiling. He made me feel special, like I was the only girl in his world. But little did I know, I was stepping right into a maze of red flags, neon-bright and flashing in the skies like fireworks. At first, I brushed them off, thinking I could "open his mind" or help him grow. But sometimes, no matter how much you try, people aren’t willing to change.

Soon, his true nature surfaced, wrapped up in jealousy and possessiveness. At first, he said it was because he was "protective" and “not secure about the people around me.” He’d get upset if I wanted to go out with friends, made excuses for why I should stay home, and got suspicious of anything that wasn’t centered around him. His jealousy turned to control, his protectiveness into gaslighting. He twisted situations, making me question myself, blame myself—even feel like I was the problem. He'd turn any disagreement around, somehow always managing to point the finger at me.

After nearly two years of dating, the weight of his manipulation finally became too much. It felt like I was carrying around a burden I couldn’t shake off, trapped in a never-ending cycle of guilt, confusion, and feeling “less than.” We had a small fight—nothing big, just the usual kind of argument. But this time, something clicked. I asked him to leave, and for once, he didn’t come back. In that moment, relief washed over me. I was finally free.

The best part? Days later, I found out he’d already moved on to another girl. And honestly, I couldn’t be happier. For the first time, I felt free—free from the endless blame, free from the control, and free to live my life without the weight of his manipulative games.

Justin Bieber’s “Love Yourself” dropped, and every single line of that song hit close to home. It was like he wrote the lyrics just for me, capturing every emotion and realization I had about the guy who pretended to be everything I ever wanted... and turned out to be anything but.

Love Yourself” came out, and it was like someone finally got it. Every lyric mirrored my experience with him:

“And if you think that I’m still holdin' on to somethin’ / You should go and love yourself.”

Justin Bieber was singing the words I’d been trying to find for so long. My ex needed to go and “love himself” because no matter what I did or how hard I tried to change him, he wasn’t going to be the person I needed. Realizing this, I knew I deserved so much more than a guy who dimmed my light and twisted my reality.

Looking back, I see every red flag I missed, and instead of regretting it, I’m grateful. I know now that I can trust my instincts and recognize those signs when they pop up. And the biggest lesson? Never settle for someone who dims your light. There’s freedom in knowing your worth and refusing to let anyone take away your peace. So here’s to lessons learned, brighter days, and the courage to walk away from anyone who doesn’t value you for the incredible person you are. ✨