...They didn't know. [That's tough. For a lot of reasons.]
They might be feeling betrayed. They might be... they might feel a loss. But, you shouldn't think that it's not for the better. Not just for you, but for them too.
Men like that... beings like that... they don't change. They don't get better. You can't actually fix anything, whether you're quiet or you push back. You... you take the hits. And you might think that it's about you. But It's not. Because when you're not there to take the hits, they always find someone else and find some excuse. They'll hurt a stranger, starve their dog, beat their children. They take their spouses and leave them dead or wanting to die. They'll find friends and lovers and lay waste to them.
[He stares ahead, unseeing. He might as well be someplace else.]
You take those hits... you tell yourself... it's just you. It's fine if it's you. But one day it's not. One day you're not there or they get in a mood or they... they find a new way to hurt you. And they hurt someone you love. And there is nothing... nothing... worse than the way that feels.
[He draws a breath, blinks, and scrubs his face.]
So don't. Don't feel guilty. Be glad for them too. They might not understand yet, but they will. Someday.
no subject
Maybe someone should!
[His brief mirth fades though.]
...They didn't know. [That's tough. For a lot of reasons.]
They might be feeling betrayed. They might be... they might feel a loss. But, you shouldn't think that it's not for the better. Not just for you, but for them too.
Men like that... beings like that... they don't change. They don't get better. You can't actually fix anything, whether you're quiet or you push back. You... you take the hits. And you might think that it's about you. But It's not. Because when you're not there to take the hits, they always find someone else and find some excuse. They'll hurt a stranger, starve their dog, beat their children. They take their spouses and leave them dead or wanting to die. They'll find friends and lovers and lay waste to them.
[He stares ahead, unseeing. He might as well be someplace else.]
You take those hits... you tell yourself... it's just you. It's fine if it's you. But one day it's not. One day you're not there or they get in a mood or they... they find a new way to hurt you. And they hurt someone you love. And there is nothing... nothing... worse than the way that feels.
[He draws a breath, blinks, and scrubs his face.]
So don't. Don't feel guilty. Be glad for them too. They might not understand yet, but they will. Someday.