Revenge feels like a win for a day and a weight for a year.

Getting even delivers a short, genuine relief, which is why it is so convincing in the moment. What it does not do is close anything. It keeps you attached to the person and the incident, because now you are part of the story too. What you were trying to put down ends up being carried longer.

When you want to hit back, name what you actually want: an apology, to be believed, for it to stop. Revenge delivers none of those. Distance and time do more, and they cost you nothing you will miss.