You do not have to maintain relationships that make you unhappy—even if they’re family.
I used to believe that family bonds were unbreakable, that no matter what, you had to tolerate selfishness, fake relationships, and inconsiderate behavior just because of blood ties. But over time, I realized that forcing myself to maintain relationships that drained me wasn’t love—it was obligation, and it was exhausting.
I’ve experienced it firsthand. The ones who put on an act in front of others, pretending to care while never making an effort behind closed doors. The ones who only think about themselves, who never truly wanted to maintain a relationship in the first place. The ones who make you feel like you’re the problem when all you did was expect basic decency. For so long, I let it slide because “they’re family.”
But family isn’t supposed to make you feel small. Love shouldn’t come with conditions. And loyalty shouldn’t mean enduring constant disappointment. Walking away doesn’t mean you don’t care—it means you care about yourself enough to stop accepting less than you deserve. Life has always been better without the weight of her presence. There is so much peace, and that's all I ever really wanted.