It was Lena.

She apologized. Said she’d believed promises never meant to be kept. Said she hadn’t understood the cost of standing in someone else’s place.

I didn’t reply.

Forgiveness doesn’t always require conversation. Sometimes it’s choosing not to carry someone else’s guilt.

I learned this: dignity doesn’t shout. It doesn’t seek revenge. It stands once, speaks calmly, and walks away—knowing integrity travels farther than humiliation ever will.

If you’ve ever been replaced, overlooked, or betrayed, remember this:

Walking away isn’t weakness.
Sometimes, it’s the moment your real power begins.