Unwanted Loyalty

Loyalty is a good trait to have. Its presence gives strength to friendships, relationships, business, and other affairs. However, such a good trait should have its limits: If a person has dedicated loyalty to someone who does not return that same loyalty, the person should stop being so loyal. That person is the one who suffers--the one who gains nothing. The other feels no pain and takes advantage of him. The person of loyalty should stop being so loyal; he wants to stop being loyal, but he doesn't have the self-control. He simply cannot do it. Without that loyalty to that other person, it's as if he has no purpose--he ceases to exist. Without some type of acknowledgement from that other person, he has no satisfaction with his life. So, instead, to have a good trait, such as loyalty, is to have an eternal curse he is unable to escape. It is as if his heart has been super glued to something that is no longer there, thus the loyalty continues. Why must the loyalty continue? Why can't he move on? Why can't he let go? Perhaps he is waiting, perhaps not. Perhaps he is hoping for the person to wake up and return his tenacious, unconditional loyalty, perhaps not. Maybe he already knows the situation is hopeless, but he does not care. One thing is for sure, he remains loyal to that other person, whether he wants to or not.