To My 19-Year-Old Self,

You knew you were strong but this made you feel invincible. You had no fear, you saw the good in all people.

You loved wholeheartedly and you could never comprehend, that sometimes love wouldn’t be genuine.

You met someone you thought was a godsend but you couldn’t have predicted what you were about to contend with.

You didn’t know the meaning of control, abuse and aggression. You mistook jealousy as acts of protection.

You trusted, you took his word for what it should have been, not what it was. You fell into the lap of lust, the trap of trust, you ignored flaws.

You had it all planned out but you let life take you off course.

The feelings that you felt, the things you went through weren’t fair, but what got you through was knowing it was preparing you for what was to come, that life wasn’t always laughs and fun.

People aren’t always who they say they are, whilst you knew this wasn’t intentional, you let it go too far.

You knew you had to leave, take a few step back, but every time you tried, you stopped in your tracks.

It’s important to do what’s best despite what you may feel, because darling, sometimes feelings aren’t as real as they seem.

They’re made up of what society believes we should be, or distorted because we can clearly see what someone’s potential might be, not their reality.

If I could go back, I would act much faster, recognise the red flags, before they became disastrous.

This is a letter to every young girl, who feels like she deserves the world.

Don’t put up with anything less, don’t try to clean up someone else’s mess.

I know this is easier said than done, so my mission is to help anyone, anyone that can relate, please reach out before it’s too late.