You still care because you didn’t stop loving them — you stopped being met. Your heart didn’t shut off just because theirs did. You stayed emotionally invested longer because you believed connection was something you work through, not walk away from the moment it gets uncomfortable. Caring wasn’t weakness — it was consistency.

And now it hurts because your care didn’t disappear when they withdrew. It stayed looking for safety, closure, and meaning. You’re not struggling because you cared too much — you’re struggling because you cared alone. Healing begins when you stop asking why you still feel, and start honoring the fact that your ability to love deeply was never the problem.