Thrown out.  Like a piece of garbage.  That’s what it feels like.  And not just any garbage, but toxic trash.  Treated not just as worthless – as having no redeeming value – but as harmful.  Not just unwanted, but actively disdained.

Rejection hurts even when no investment has been made, no effort put forward.  It hurts even when it’s done by people in the world who don’t know any better and whose opinions shouldn’t really matter, anyway.  But rejection by some of the very few people you’ve ever allowed yourself to trust?  Rejection when you honestly have tried to give your never-quite-enough best?  Rejection when you’ve wanted – needed, even – to know that despite all your flaws and failings, love will cover and forgive and build up?

That ruins a person.