Love, Lies, and Illusions: Understanding the Draw of Toxic Relationships. She met him online. The conversation flowed effortlessly, like two souls intertwining through words on a screen. He was attentive, charming, and made her feel seen. Every morning started with a sweet message, every night ended with deep conversations about life, dreams, and everything in between. But then, like clockwork, something changed. A month passed, and he became distant. No more morning texts, fewer responses, excuses piling up. Work got hectic , life is overwhelming , it’s not you, it’s just me . The rhythm that once felt natural became a game—one where she chased, and he withdrew. The more he pulled away, the more she tried to understand. What happened? Did I do something wrong? Maybe he’s going through something. She convinced herself he needed patience, care, and understanding. She mistook absence for mystery, emotional detachment for depth. What she didn’t realize was that she was no longer in con...