I've come to realize that others know that my wanting to avoid being cruel can be preyed on, used to manipulate me. I've fallen for it so many times in the past, but now, taking a step back, i'm realizing when it happens.

 When people go their separate ways, you can't usually expect one to console the other. We have to find people in each of our own lives to listen to us, bring us comfort. To ask each other to do that can be cruel, in that you never learn to live without the other person. You must learn to eat, breathe, live and love without that person, just like you did before them. 

 Tears and prayers and excuses after you've already made up your mind won't make things better, and there is such a thing as it being too late.