"You're a traitor! Did you have to air our dirty laundry in public? You have absolutely no respect for the family!" Dad shouted.
He shouted into the phone: "You've destroyed everything, Jacob. You'll regret this."
You'll regret breaking off contact with us. You'll regret turning your back on your family. But the difference? I don't regret it.
Not for a second. I blocked them all. I was done.
And for the first time, I was free. Free from her toxic grip. Free from being the scapegoat…
Freed from the endless expectation of solving their problems over and over again. With each passing day, I felt a weight lift from my shoulders. I was no longer the person they wanted solely for my abilities.
Now I had the freedom to live my life the way I wanted. That's why I don't feel guilty about leaving them. I deserve better.
I still deserve better. And from now on, I will only surround myself with people who appreciate me for who I am – not for what I can give them.
It's time to move on. And I will. Forever.
