I wish I had read this piece years ago. These guys confused me so much. They came on strong, seemed so into me, but the instant I stood up for myself or set a boundary with them, the hate came out.

I always thought I must have done something wrong, something to make them hate me.

But in reality, that hate is always there. It’s hatred based on their inability to communicate effectively, their cruelty to themselves, their inability to empathize with other people. They crave our empathy and softness, but deny our humanity once we no longer serve them.

They come at us like an enemy fortress.