01/29/2026
Joy and Mercy had been friends for years.
From school days to adulthood, they did everything together. People always said, “You two are inseparable, are you twins.”
But over time, the friendship started to hurt Joy.
Mercy often dismissed her feelings.
If Joy spoke up, Mercy would say she was being dramatic.
If Mercy was wrong, Joy was expected to apologize first, just to keep the peace.
Joy noticed how tired she felt after talking to her.
How she replayed conversations in her head, wondering what she did wrong.
Still, she stayed.
Not because the friendship felt good,
but because it felt familiar.
She knew how to survive in it.
She knew when to stay quiet.
She knew how to shrink herself so Mercy wouldn’t get upset.
The thought of stepping back scared her.
What if she lost the friendship?
What if she ended up alone?
At least this pain was predictable.
One day, Joy finally took space.
And something surprising happened, she felt lighter.
No anxiety. No guilt. Just peace.
That’s when she understood:
She didn’t stay because of love.
She stayed because she was used to the pain.
Sometimes, we remain in toxic situations too long
because familiar pain feels safer than the unknown.
But choosing yourself is not selfish, it’s healing.
Choose your self today!
Choose peace!
♥️