You can blame your ugliness for keeping people at bay, when in reality you're crippled by the thought of letting another person close enough to popentially scar you even more deeply. You can tell yourself that it's safer to love someone who will never really love you back, because you can't lose someone you never had.
The passage reflects on the deep emotional barriers that individuals create as a defense mechanism against potential heartbreak. It suggests that people often attribute their feelings of isolation to insecurities about their appearance, rather than acknowledging their fear of intimacy and vulnerability. These fears can prevent them from forming meaningful relationships and truly connecting with others.
Moreover, the text highlights the paradox of choosing unrequited love as a means of self-protection. By investing feelings in someone who cannot reciprocate, individuals believe they safeguard themselves from the risks of loss and pain. This mindset ultimately perpetuates a cycle of emotional distance, as the fear of getting hurt inhibits genuine connection and the possibility of love.
