I forgive myself for every time I didn’t choose me, for staying where my soul begged me to leave, for giving too much to those who took without leaving anything behind.

I forgive the silence— the words I swallowed to keep peace while war raged inside me. For saying “yes” when my heart screamed “no.”

I forgive the moments I felt too small, too tired, too far from who I thought I should be. For seeing myself through their eyes instead of my own.

I forgive the tears I never let fall, and the ones that came too late. For chasing people who never looked back, for trying to save others while losing myself.

I forgive my mistakes, the failures I treated as final verdicts instead of lessons. For every day I forgot I deserve love, patience, and gentleness. For every second I placed myself last.

I forgive myself— for all I was, for all I couldn’t be, and most of all, for ever believing I didn’t deserve this forgiveness.