I absolutely am single because of me. Because I’m tired of being sexually assaulted, abused, and blamed for it. Im tired of being dehumanized because I’m a brown woman and therefore seen as less-than. Tired of being seen as promiscuous because of stereotypes about women who look like me. I am single because I’m exhausted and need to heal. I am single because I choose to protect my peace. I am single because trust issues are actually reasonable in the wake of over two decades of abuse. That’s not a character flaw and it’s not whining either. It’s self-care and self-awareness.