Pleaded

 She PLEADED for years. She communicated, she cried, she

stayed when most would have left, she gave more of herself than

she had to spare. And the more she gave, the less it seemed to

register. Her tears did not move him. Her effort went

unacknowledged. Her presence was taken completely for granted.

Over time she was hollowed out, not just tired but emptied in a

way that went beyond exhaustion. She did not leave because the

love disappeared on its own. She left because staying had

consumed everything inside her that was capable of LOVING

him. By the end it was not a choice. It was the only thing left in

her that still knew how to protect itself.