There is a particular kind of shame that can appear after being manipulated for the second time. The first time, you might tell yourself: I didn't know the signs. The second time, the thought can become much harsher: But I should have known better. You remember the promises you believed. The explanations you accepted. The moments when your instincts whispered that something wasn't right, only for you to silence them because you wanted to believe the person you loved. And now you are sitting with two wounds instead of one. There is the pain caused by the other person. And then there is the pain you are directing towards yourself. You may wonder: Why did I let this happen again? Why didn't I leave sooner? Why do I keep attracting manipulative people? Can I trust my judgement anymore? And perhaps the most painful question of all: What's wrong with me? Nothing. Being manipulated more than once does not mean you are stupid, weak, naïve, or incapable of le...