Hurt does not only live in memory.
It lives in your jaw, your shoulders, your heartbeat.
Every time you replay what happened, your body often reacts as if it is happening again.
Stress chemistry. Tight chest. Shallow breath.
The usual pattern is to protect the hurt by gripping it.
“If I let go, it means it did not matter.”
“If I forgive, they get away with it.”
Forgiveness is not saying it was fine.
It is not inviting harmful people back into your life.
It is not pretending you are over it.
Forgiveness is letting your own system stand down.
Letting your heart and brain stop bracing for an impact that is not happening right now.
It is a nervous system decision to stop pouring energy into an old war.
You can still tell the truth.
You can still name what was not okay.
You can still hold boundaries.
Love, here, is choosing your peace over your grudge.
Not for their sake. For your body and your future.