The Girl Who Tried

She thought she was like me.

She wasn’t.

But she was close enough to be interesting.

She tested me.

Small manipulations.

Social positioning.

Subtle lies.

I allowed it.

Even encouraged it.

Let her win.

Often.

Confidence grew.

Predictably.

I mapped her.

Habits. Reactions. Limits.

Everyone has them.

When she escalated, it was inevitable.

A rumor.

Carefully constructed.

Poorly executed.

I did nothing.

That’s the important part.

Others questioned it.

Inconsistencies surfaced.

She defended.

Overexplained.

Contradicted.

Collapsed.

She avoided me afterward.

Wise.

Intelligence without restraint is self-destruction.