The statement stopped me in my tracks. I felt many things in that moment as that simple statement sunk in. I felt sad. Used. Embarrassed. But greater than any of those, I felt validated.

Being able to answer WHY was really important to me because it seemed like it should shape what happened next. But I ultimately realized, there was never going to why big enough to rationalize what happened.

Where you fell down, I want to bravely pick back up. For many years, I gave you my best and I'm proud that I did. That said, I'm confident that while your choices are forever marked in my history, they won’t define what is yet to come. 

This was my Discovery Day, or “D Day,” as they call it. They are as awful as you’d imagine in spite of everyone stating they can’t imagine it.