believe them

When people show you who they are … believe them. You don’t have to hate them or shoot them or push them off a bridge, but you move forward knowing that you can no longer entrust yourself to them. They no longer belong in your “trustworthy” category. Sure, you can “trust” them to pick up your mail for you when you’re out of town or save your place in line at the King Burger, but you cannot “entrust” yourself to them. Your heart is not safe with them. They’ve proven that their agenda, or position — or better yet their will to power — is more valuable to them than you are. And should you ever threaten that agenda — or will to power — again, you will suffer a similar, or worse, backlash as you received the time before.

So, to quote the Bible for a shorter version: “Be wise as serpents and gentle as doves.” Emphasis on the serpent part.

Or similar sentiments from The Who: “Don’t get fooled again!”