Looking back, walking away from the people who were supposed to love me unconditionally was the hardest and most liberating decision of my life. I built my own family with Hazel, surrounded by people who show up when it matters, not just when it is convenient. But sometimes late at night, I still see the occasional email from some obscure relative trying to play peacemaker, asking me to just let it go for the sake of blood.
So I have to ask: was I wrong for standing my ground and permanently cutting off my parents and sister, or should I have swallowed my pride and accepted their half-hearted apologies to keep the family together?
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