Your story touches on some very important points: valuing your own individuality and independence and, despite everything, holding on to a thread of hope for love. Both things are essential.
Originally Posted by Verity
[...] sometimes we definitely need to learn to stand alone and reach out to others from a position of stability within ourselves, instead of relying on them to stabilize us.

Beautifully said, Verity.

Hugs <3

Stories are written by the victors.
(Hmm, come to think of it, that's not the exact quote...)