Mental Systems

Respect isn’t just earned—it’s tested, ignored, and eventually walked away from. I didn’t raise him out of obligation. I chose to. I gave structure, presence, and discipline to someone who was never mine by blood, but treated like he could’ve been, until he made it clear he wanted none of it. This isn’t a story of revenge. It’s the quiet end of a role I never asked for but fully stepped into. He’s not family anymore not out of anger, but because the respect I gave was discarded, and that’s something I can forgive, but not pretend didn’t happen.