The Day I Stopped Explaining Myself (Rebuilding in Silence, Part 2)

I used to feel responsible for everyone else’s understanding.

If people didn’t get my choices, I’d apologize. If they questioned my decisions, I’d defend them. If they noticed my pain, I’d explain it away.

One day, I just… stopped.

Not dramatically. Not in a confrontation. I just stopped offering explanations for how I lived, what I...