As a Black woman, a survivor of sexual assault, and a writer immersed in the landscape of modern relationships, trust is not a word I carry lightly. It is not a decoration stitched onto my sleeve, nor is it freely given. The world has made sure of that.

While I am keenly aware that not all men are untrustworthy, my lived experience and the horrors echoing from every corner of society suggest otherwise. Headlines drip with betrayal, gaslighting and abuse so insidious it burns under the skin like an unwanted guest. The dating economy feels less like a space of possibility and more like an endless version of struggle Olympics – one where failure seems predetermined.