Control Is Not Love

Abuse does not always leave a bruise.

Sometimes, it happens behind closed doors, and no one ever sees it. It can be physical, mental,

emotional, verbal, financial, or psychological. Sometimes it starts so small that you do not even

realize you are being controlled until you have slowly stopped making choices for yourself.

It’s being told who you can talk to, where you can go, what you can wear, or what you’re

allowed to do. It’s being manipulated until you question your own worth. It’s being isolated until

you feel like you have no one left.

And sometimes, children become part of that control. A survivor may make heartbreaking

sacrifices because protecting their child becomes more important than protecting themselves.

That isn’t weakness. That is survival.

And domestic violence does not have a gender. Women can be survivors. Men can be survivors

too.

Anyone can experience abuse.

Love doesn’t make you afraid.

Love doesn’t take away your voice.

Love doesn’t take away your choices.

Love doesn’t require you to lose yourself.

If you have to surrender your freedom to keep someone, that isn’t love.

Control is not love, fear is not love, silence is not love.

LOVE SHOULD FEEL LIKE SAFETY NOT SURVIVAL.