Karen, take it from me, who has been downvoted by whales before: if this is your first time experiencing it, just learn from it. No one likes getting flagged, and I was recently flagged by @transisto. My post had an absurd amount of comments, like over 100. You know what my reaction was? "Meh, whatever". I ignored it, looked at as a learning experience, then moved on.
I realize you are very badly wounded, as most people are the first time they get downvoted. But don't leave the platform because of one flag. You can choose to ignore it and continue to post whatever you want.
No one is immune from flags, that's just how Steemit was designed. That's my tough love for you.
Look at it this way, your post made way more than mine even though the one that @transisto flagged of mine made it to #2 trending page with only an $8 payout. Yours was more successful than mine, so in a way, it's all dependent on what you're comparing yourself with.
I know this won't make you feel any better, but think about it. After I was flagged, I just did nothing, nothing.
I forgot about it.