I am a therapist. And I was married to a man who was emotionally abusive. Lying, gaslighting, manipulation, using your own good qualities against you — these are tactics that ‘work’ to keep empathic people in relationship with psychopaths. Thank you for sharing. I would like to share more myself and may when I am ready, but I think what you say is important and validating. Don’t stay. That’s my advice. And no matter how ‘sorry’ you feel for the other person, cut that feeling off…that’s what he/she will use to suck you dry.