Life doesn’t come with instructions, but if it did, there would probably be a section that says, “Warning: People will play with your emotions. Proceed with caution.”
We grow up believing emotions are pure — that what we feel is a reflection of something honest, something shared. But as time goes on, we learn that not everyone holds emotions with the same care. For some, emotions become currency. For others, a weapon. And for many, just a game.
You give. They take.
You care. They ghost.
You open up. They shut down.
Sound familiar?
The Game No One Wants to Play
It hurts to admit, but emotional manipulation is real. Some people don’t know how to love without control. Others don’t know how to connect without drama. And sometimes, people don’t realize they’re playing with your feelings because they never learned how to value their own.
You might find yourself stuck in a loop — constantly overthinking, replaying conversations, questioning your worth. You’ll ask:
“Was it all fake?”
“Did I matter?”
“What did I do wrong?”
But here’s the truth: the problem isn’t always you. Sometimes, people project their own chaos onto others. They confuse your kindness for weakness. They treat your vulnerability like an opportunity, not a gift.
Moving On Isn’t Cold — It’s Survival
Moving on doesn’t mean you didn’t care. It doesn’t make you heartless. It means you’ve finally chosen yourself. You’ve decided that your peace matters more than playing a part in someone else’s emotional circus.
Letting go is hard. It’s not just the person you’re walking away from — it’s the hope, the story you imagined, the future you thought you’d share. But you can’t keep losing yourself trying to hold on to someone who doesn’t even see your value.
And when you do move on, really move on, you reclaim something powerful: your self-respect.
You Deserve More
More honesty. More care. More effort. Real connections don’t come with confusion. Real love doesn’t leave you second-guessing.
So yes — people play with emotions.
But no — you don’t have to stay in the game.
Choose growth over games. Choose healing over hoping.
And most of all, choose you.
