Months ago, I knew it was over. For the first time since it began, I didn’t envision us reconnecting again, apologizing halfheartedly, and then continuing the cycle. I finally let you go. I had no hope of rekindling anything, and I was okay with that for the first time ever. You were officially part of my past, never to be returned to. I said goodbye.

You broke my heart. There were so many things in moments of hurt and anger that I wanted to say. Now, months later, I finally gathered the courage, even if I’m not hurt or angry any longer. I’m the greatest I’ve ever been without you.

Thank you for breaking my heart. You made me realize that I am strong enough to stand back up after being knocked down so many times with false hope, lies, and halfhearted apologies. Because of the pain you caused me, I became a better version of myself: tougher, a girl who can stand alone and still have the courage to continue on. You didn’t give me strength, no. Your actions did. Your carelessness did. Thank you for that. If you didn’t break me, I never would have known what it was like to be strong enough to stand alone after being completely broken.

I understand that the person you were with me is not who you really are. You are, in actuality, a kindhearted person, who loves so deeply if you really love someone. I was told that so many times by people who were shocked by your actions, not knowing that you had it in you to hurt someone the way you hurt me, if at all. If you really love someone, you bend over backwards. You put your all into loving them as completely as you can. You didn’t love me. Your feelings for me, in fact, were so halfhearted that, at the end of it all, I doubted they were even there. Now that all is said and done, I don’t care if the feelings were there or not. I don’t care that you hurt me. As bad as it was, I’m glad it happened. I’m even more glad that it’s over. You were a lesson for me that involved not giving my heart away so quickly.

Thank you for never making me a priority. Now that I’m with someone who I don’t have to fight for, I realize how easy love should be. I realize that, if you care for someone, you make time for them. You shout your love to the world because you’re so proud to be theirs. I have that now. Being someone’s priority is the most amazing feeling, and I’m so grateful that I didn’t experience that with you. You didn’t deserve to be my priority, and I shudder at the thought of how much I tried to force it. It just wasn’t there. Ever. I’m sorry that I fought so hard. The mess that we were was not worth the effort I put in. Because of your actions, I can appreciate my boyfriend more. He treats me like I’m everything and more, and it’s exactly what I have deserved all along.

Thank you for letting me go. It was a choice you made. I’m so glad you did because I fear what would have happened if you would have kept me on a string. We were never meant to be, and I’m kicking myself for fighting so hard for something so fake. I was so sure of you, and you dropped me so easily. I know I meant nothing, and I am okay with that. It doesn’t hurt anymore. If you never would have let me go, I would have held on tighter. I deserved more. Letting go was the most freeing thing. It was exactly what I needed.

Thank you for breaking my heart. If you wouldn’t have left me broken, the person I’m with now would not have come into my life with the intent to fix the broken pieces and show me a love I deserve. He watched as you hurt me. He saw everything in me that you didn’t, and I thank him every day for that. The months with him have been everything I deserve. I never would have known what real love is like if you didn’t break me first.

I wish you the best in whatever you do and whoever you’re with. Even those who hurt others deserve happiness. I’m not angry anymore. Losing you was the best thing that ever happened to me, and getting hurt by you was a stepping stone to the happiness I have now.

Thank you for breaking my heart. I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.