While falling in love felt magical,  
I forgot that self-worth was essential  
For reaching my maximum potential.

In seeking love, I found clarity about things that love was not  
What began as a love bombing, making me feel giddy and soft,  
Quickly turned into:  
- Breadcrumbing and ghosting  
- then gaslighting and being shut out

You withheld communication, and I longed for our playful ease,  
Being left out in the cold depleted my inner peace,  

Your on-and-off affection left me questioning my self-worth
Your gaslighting made me doubt and second-guess every truth,  

Being treated as just an option didn’t align with my soul
It conflicted with self-respect, which had been keeping me whole

Confronting this truth broke and then mended me, though it had always been clear  
Our encounter was simply toxic — it was neither love nor care.