Decided to redraw this old piece from 2022. Anger and hurt are very central themes when it comes to Zaphaleth and arguably they're also when it comes to me. Last year in August I broke contact with someone I thought of as a friend. What had been a flirtatious, intense and exciting relationship had turned sour and ended in abuse, sexual harrassment and intense emotional manipulation. I felt wounded, stabbed in the chest by someone who I dedicated so much time and energy to. Someone I performed emotional labour for and tried to please as best as I could. But ultimately it was one-sided and I was giving and giving and giving, walking on egg shells to not hurt his ego. I made myself small. And later I found out he did the same thing to other people as well, two of them are among my best and most beloved friends. I'm angry, and I'm not doing that again. The wounds have started to heal and I barely think about him anymore.
In the future I won't let anyone walk all over me. And if they try they will feel my teeth.