Within the past few weeks, I'm sure your news feed has been filled with the court case about Michelle Carter, who was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter after she sent texts to her boyfriend urging him to commit suicide.

Following this news story wasn't easy. It brought me back to a time I have tried endlessly to forget. A time where I was too young and naive for my own good. A time where I was a young freshman in high school full of hope, not fully realizing how cruel others could be.

A time where I was on the receiving end of a text that read, "go kill yourself and make everyone happy."

That text was from my ex-boyfriend. I was in a relationship with him that was thankfully short-lived. It was toxic and verbally abusive. Unfortunately, we kept in contact after I ended things. And that was even worse.

I never had his phone number saved in my contacts, but I remembered it by heart. Not because I wanted to. Not because I loved seeing his number pop up on my screen. No, it's because I had fear the number would come on my screen, whether it be a phone call or a text. I feared for my life when I saw that number.

I was afraid to go to school given the chance I might run into him in the hallways. It was unbearable. I was living in constant fear.

It's been seven years since he texted to go kill myself. Seven years and I'm still here, but it wasn't easy. Since then I've been constantly struggling with depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts.

It's been seven years and yes, he has tried to contact me through Facebook numerous times. I haven't responded to a single message he has sent.

I keep fighting. I keep going. I keep living.