He Ghosted Me, Then Asked to Borrow My Car
MENACE BY TESSA PRESENTS DEAR TESSA LOVE, LIES & RED FLAGS LETTER NO. 007 | LOVE IS COMPLICATED After disappearing for three weeks without an explanation, her almost-boyfriend finally reached out. Unfortunately, he wasn’t calling to apologize. He needed a ride, and apparently her entire car. DEAR TESSA, I need you to...
You’re Looking for a Different Answer
There comes a point where you have to ask yourself an uncomfortable question: Am I actually looking for the truth, or am I looking for an answer I like better? Those are two very different pursuits. One leads to clarity. The other keeps you trapped in an endless cycle of searching, hoping that if you …...
The Wrong Love Teaches the Loudest Lessons
If someone had asked me years ago whether I regretted certain relationships, I probably would have said yes without hesitation. I would’ve told you about the heartbreak, the disappointment, the sleepless nights, and all the time I wished I could get back. I would’ve focused on everything I lost. But healing has a way of...
Not Every Relationship Deserves Forever
We grow up believing that the best relationships are the ones that last forever. Movies, books, and even well-meaning advice often tell us that if we love someone enough, work hard enough, or stay committed long enough, every relationship can survive. While commitment is a beautiful thing, not every connection is meant to become...
I Accidentally Sent the Screenshot to the Person in It
MENACE BY TESSA PRESENTS DEAR TESSA CHAOS, CHOICES & CONSEQUENCES LETTER NO. 006 | THE SCREENSHOT INCIDENT She wanted to share one questionable social media post with her best friend. Instead, she accidentally delivered the screenshot and her unfiltered commentary directly to the woman in the picture. Now the message...
You Deserve Better Than Bare Minimum
So many people convince themselves that the bare minimum is something to be grateful for. A returned text message becomes proof that someone cares. An occasional compliment feels like deep affection. A last-minute date, inconsistent effort, or a rare moment of vulnerability suddenly becomes enough to overlook weeks of emotional distance....
Why Does Everything Need to Be a Healing Journey?
MENACE BY TESSA PRESENTS UNSOLICITED OBSERVATIONS OBSERVATION NO. 002 | COMPLETELY UNREQUESTED An unsolicited examination of therapeutic buzzwords, emotionally significant coffee orders, and the internet’s determination to turn every mildly inconvenient Tuesday into a transformative personal awakening. 01. The...
Stop Listening to Potential
Potential is one of the most dangerous things to fall in love with. It looks hopeful, optimistic, and full of possibility. It whispers, “Just give it more time,” or, “They’ll change once they’re ready.” Before long, you find yourself building a relationship around who someone could become instead of...
My Sister Announced Her Pregnancy at My Wedding
MENACE BY TESSA PRESENTS DEAR TESSA BLOOD, BESTIES & BETRAYAL LETTER NO. 005 | LOYALTY IS COMPLICATED She spent eighteen months planning her wedding, only to watch her sister turn the reception into an unexpected pregnancy announcement. Now her family says she should be happy about becoming an aunt, while she’s...
Availability Is Not a Personality Trait
Somewhere along the way, many of us started believing that being a good person meant always being available. We answered every phone call, responded to every text immediately, rearranged our schedules for other people, and said yes even when every part of us wanted to say no. We wore our reliability like a badge of …...
