When the World Leaves You Behind

Chapter 1: Nothing Lasts

Nothing lasts forever. That's the first truth you need to accept. It doesn't matter how close you are to someone, how much they claim they love you, or how deeply you believe they'll always be there—eventually, they won't. People leave. Friendships fade. Love dies. And at some point, whether you like it or not, you'll find yourself alone.

I'm not saying you should shut yourself off from the world or avoid relationships altogether. No, you should enjoy them while they last. You should love people, create memories, and let yourself feel everything deeply. But what you shouldn't do is depend on them. You shouldn't attach your entire existence to people who can walk away at any moment. Because when they do, where does that leave you? Lost. Shattered. Wondering why you weren't enough to make them stay.

I used to be terrified of losing people. I thought that if I held on tight enough, if I gave them everything, they'd never leave. But life doesn't work that way. No matter how much you care, no matter how much effort you put in, people still walk away. And when they do, you're the only one left to pick up the pieces. I had to learn that the hard way. Over and over again, I gave my trust to people who didn't deserve it, and every single time, they proved to me that nobody is permanent.

So, I stopped expecting them to be.

I stopped believing in "forever." I stopped waiting for people to save me. Instead, I started saving myself. I learned how to be okay on my own, how to rely on myself instead of others. Because at the end of the day, the only person who will always be there for you is you. And the sooner you accept that, the less disappointed you'll be when people fail you.

The truth is, nobody is worth losing yourself over. No friendship, no relationship, no fleeting connection is worth breaking yourself just to keep someone around. I realized that I don't even need people—not in the way I used to think I did. And neither do you. Sure, people can bring happiness, laughter, and moments of warmth, but they're not your foundation. They're not the thing keeping you alive. You are.

You have to learn to be alone before life forces you to be. Because one day, it will. One day, you'll look around and realize that you have no one but yourself. And if you don't know how to handle that, if you've spent your whole life depending on others to fill the empty spaces, it's going to destroy you.

So don't let it. Prepare yourself now. Build a life that doesn't depend on anyone else. Love people, yes, but don't need them. Give your heart, but don't let it be the only thing keeping you standing. Because when the world leaves you behind—and it will—you need to be strong enough to stand alone. 

It's a harsh reality, but it's one you need to accept. I wish someone had told me this sooner. I wish someone had warned me that the people you love the most can still turn into strangers. That promises mean nothing. That forever is just a word people use when they want to make you feel safe. But I had to learn it the hard way. I had to go through heartbreak after heartbreak, betrayal after betrayal, loss after loss, before I finally understood.

So be your own safety net. Be your own support system. Learn how to be alone before life forces you to be. Because one day, it will. And when that day comes, if you don't know how to stand on your own, it'll break you.

Nothing lasts. Not people, not feelings, not even pain. So don't waste your time begging for things to stay. Accept the reality, embrace the temporary, and build a life that doesn't fall apart when someone walks away. Because at the end of the day, the only person who will always be there for you is you.