I’m sorry to hear about your heartbreak, Hannah, but you’ve summed up the wisdom you gained beautifully. It reminds me of the quote (possibly misquoting here, but): “Being loved by someone deeply gives you strength. Loving someone deeply gives you courage.” It sounds like he gave you the courage to discover yourself on a deeper level and reach for your “best life.” I hope that your future connects you with men who are courageous enough to be vulnerable and who are willing to prioritize you in the futures that they build for themselves. (And I wasn’t sure from your essay or your earlier comment to me whether you are still in Berlin or whether you’ve made the move you wanted to make to Paris. If you’re still hoping for Paris, I hope it can happen for you soon!)