How Easily We Create an Enemy

My hurt pulled forward a simple story:

“She’s controlling.”
“She wants to punish me for the separation.”
“She’s trying to take my kids away.”

I couldn’t imagine any other reason.
I couldn’t access her heart.
I couldn’t see any tenderness behind the decision.

I spent hours fuming.
Hours crying.
Hours replaying the moment, each time sharpening the story and deepening my position as the one being wronged.

This is what the conflict mind does.
It makes us righteous and makes the other person wrong.
It protects us — but in doing so, it strips away connection and nuance.