I used to think saying “no” required a detailed explanation. Now I know better: people who respect your boundaries don’t need a backstory. “No” is a full sentence—and it doesn’t need a footnote.

Not all boundary violations are dramatic. Sometimes they look like saying “I’m fine” when you’re not, or agreeing to things that drain you. But those small betrayals add up—and you deserve better than a life lived in quiet resentment.