The most lingering poison of a narcissistic relationship isn’t just what they did to us; it’s the shame we carry for "letting it happen." To heal, we have to stop viewing our past selves as accomplices and start viewing ourselves as the targets of a calculated psychological operation. if you take anything away from this, hope it’s these two truths:

• You didn't invite a "sick fuck" into your home; you invited a curated, mirrored version of a partner that he manufactured specifically to bypass your defenses.

• They hunt for empathy. Your willingness to see the good in him wasn't a flaw; it was a virtue that he weaponized against you