I’m not over it, but I think it came from a very religious and tradition worshiping environment that saw romantic relationships as the ultimate role for women (so long as they led to motherhood) and very much policed even that; like my only value was as some man’s future wife or and mother of his children. And I have always been a rebellious little shit, so that type of conservative southern culture has never been my vibe.

Then I had a long but very ill-advised relationship with a man I thought I knew but had deeply and fundamentally misjudged and just decided I can’t trust myself or any man who would have me, so I’ll just live my best life alone.