To the family that abandoned my best friend,

About two weeks ago, my best friend was put in the psychiatric ward at our local hospital, after I had to rush her there on suicide watch. You, her family, were the main people she didn't want to know, because you have done nothing but mock and berate her for her mental illness, so she was terrified to tell you how she was feeling.

After four and a half hours in the ER and three psych evaluations, you guys found out, and started texting her, demanding to see her. Your concern was not for her well being, your concern was not about her at all. It was about you. Which is why you didn't care that your demands to see her gave her a wave of panic attacks. She begged me not to let you in to see her. So I didn't.

When they finally got her a room, and I left the hospital, you cornered me outside. You screamed at me and accused me of being a bad friend. You told me I didn't respect her because I wasn't telling you what happened. You asked me "what she did" without a word on whether or not she was okay. All you cared was that you weren't in control.

I have watched you as a family collectively destroy her mental health. After leaving her abusive ex boyfriend, she came home to the same abuse from a different party, except you justified your abuse with the name of family. And because of that, she felt she needed to accept your abuse. You see, I don't exactly see things that way, which is probably why you hate me so much. I always tried to remove her from the grasps of your unending control and abuse. But when she finally snapped under your pressure, you blamed me.

Here's what I have to say to you:

You make no sense to me. You were gifted with a beautiful girl who was your blood and would have done anything she could to please you, including taking your abuse.

You do not deserve her, and you never did.

Especially considering now that she doesn't fit the mold of the perfect daughter and granddaughter you wish she was, you abandoned her. You haven't spoken to her since she was released, all because she now has mental health diagnoses. I'm sorry you can't see how great she is just because you don't like that she has to fix herself. I'm sorry you won't get to watch her grow. I'm sorry you lost such an amazing person. But that's your loss.

Sincerely,

The best friend that never left