I thought love was the destructive force that broke me. That’s why I was so frightened when you told me you loved me, because I knew I loved you, too. All I could think was that I didn’t want to go back to being that broken person. Or become a monster who breaks you.” Her voice cracked, but she continued with renewed strength, “But now I finally understand that it was the malice and the toxicity that made me lose myself. That’s the nature of abuse, not love. I won’t hide in shame and fear anymore. I survived soul-destroying abuse, and that’s a testament to my strength. I was so wrong to fear
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