“I do it because

“I do it because I love you,”

He will say when he goes through your things. 

“It’s not because I don’t trust you,”

He will tell you, but he enjoys the fights that his actions bring. 

“I do it because I love you,”

He will say when he blocks your best friend.

“Why would you need her? You have me,”

He will tell you, and his toxic behavior really begins.

“I do it because I love you,”

He will say when he calls you names. 

“Go ahead and play the victim. You’re too sensitive,”

He will tell you, and pretend you’re the reason he acts this way. 

“I do it because I love you,”

He will say when he raises his hand,

“This wouldn’t happen if you wouldn’t make me so mad.”

He will tell you, and convince you that there is nothing wrong with this kind of behavior in a man.

“I do this because I love me,”

You will say when you find your strength. 

“I deserve better, and no one should be treated like this,”

You will tell him, and he will not know what to think.

“I do this because I love me,”

You will say when you stand on your own.

“You hurt me. You used me. You manipulated me. You won’t do this to me anymore,”

You will tell him, and you will realize you can stand alone.

“I do this because I love me,”

You will say when you look in the mirror.

“Someone out there will respect who I am, but I have to respect myself first.”

You will tell yourself, and you will see in your eyes: who you were meant to be will become clearer. 

“I do this because I love me,”

You will say when you finally move on.

“He will never raise a hand to me. He will talk nicely to me. He will love me,”

You will tell yourself, and when he proves it, you’ll know this is real love.