Member-only story
You Were Never Really Listening
— And That’s When I Knew
By R. T. Garner
A reflection on what it feels like to be unheard when you need it most.
Read more here Are You Really Listening?
We say “I’m fine” because it’s easier.
Because the truth — the real, raw, bleeding truth — makes people shift in their seats, glance at their phones, and mutter something meaningless like, Stay strong.
But what happens when we stop saying what they want to hear?
What happens when we tell them the truth — and they still look away?
You Were Never Really Listening
I used to say I’m okay
because it was what you wanted to hear.
Because the truth — the real, raw, bleeding truth —
would have made you shift in your seat,
glance at your phone,
mutter something meaningless like, Stay strong,
as if strength alone could hold me together.
I used to lie to protect you.
To keep you from feeling the weight of my reality.
Because every time I tried to let you in,
