via Niña Kyle Baldano, Pressroom PH
“You deserve better,” he said, as if walking away from me was an act of love.
I used to think that line was noble. That maybe letting go was proof he truly cared. Maybe he was just protecting me from the version of himself he couldn’t fix. But as time passed, I realized — sometimes, people say “you deserve better” not because they value you, but because they’re done trying.
It’s the kind of heartbreak that confuses you. Hindi siya toxic breakup. Walang sigawan, walang cheating, walang away. He just… left. Quietly. Kindly. And yet, it still hurts like hell. Because how do you fight for something when the other person says it’s for your own good?
And here’s the thing — maybe I do deserve better. But why did he get to decide that for me?
He didn’t even ask if I still wanted him. If I was willing to stay. If I believed that he was already enough. He just assumed he wasn’t, and left. And the worst part? I started to believe it, too.
I questioned myself. Was I too much? Did I love him too hard? Was I not worth fighting for? Because in his effort to sound selfless, what he really did was leave a trail of unanswered questions that I had to heal from alone.
People talk about red flags and toxic exes — but no one really talks about the ones who left "nicely." The ones who broke your heart with softness, with quiet apologies, with words like “you’ll find someone better” and “you’re going to be amazing, even without me.”
They sound kind, but they still leave.
And maybe he meant well. Maybe he really thought I deserved more than what he could give. But here’s the truth: love is not about giving up just because you're not perfect. Love is showing up, especially when you're not. It’s trying, staying, growing — not disappearing in the name of selflessness.
Now I understand. I do deserve better — but not because he said so. I deserve better than someone who decides for me. Better than someone who thinks leaving is love. I deserve someone who doesn't walk away the moment they feel unworthy — but chooses to stay and grow with me.
So no, he wasn’t wrong when he said I deserve better.
He was just never it.
