Stop gaslighting your nervous system. Walking on eggshells usually means walking away. Fight-or-flight response usually means avoiding them. Bad energy, weird vibes, and sneaky sh*t usually mean keeping your distance. Trust your body's reactions and validate your body signals.
The older you get, the more you appreciate direct communication, clear intentions, and consistency because you got no time and energy to entertain people who can't communicate like adults and play guessing games about what they want from you or how they feel about you.
Solitude is full of answers and it teaches you a lot about yourself. Maturity is learning to be alone, enjoying your own company, and never going back to toxic people no matter how lonely you feel.