Everyone remembers the first moment they shrank — even if they try to forget it. It might’ve been a joke that landed too hard. A look that made your stomach tighten. A conversation where your voice didn’t matter, so you pretended it didn’t hurt. Your body noticed before your mind could explain it. That moment was your warning, your intuition whispering, “Pay attention… something is shifting.”

But you learned to override that whisper. You told yourself they were stressed, tired, distracted, “going through something.” You made excuses for the discomfort because you cared for them more than you cared for yourself. That’s how shrinking begins — not with a fall, but with a series of small internal folds, each one teaching you that who you are is too much, too loud, too emotional, too inconvenient.

The relationship didn’t suddenly become unhealthy. It evolved quietly, and your shrinking made space for their expansion. You apologized for things you didn’t do. You softened your truth so theirs could remain untouched. You dimmed your presence so their ego could feel larger. And over time, losing pieces of yourself became the price you paid for keeping the peace.

But here’s the truth: that very first moment was your body telling you the relationship wasn’t safe for your full self. And you don’t need to carry shame for missing the signal. You weren’t weak — you were hopeful. You believed the connection was worth the discomfort. You believed the disrespect was temporary. You believed love could override pain. But your intuition was right the first time. It always is.

“Your intuition was right the first time.”