I had been dating this guy since my freshman year of high school. What I had with him was so special to me. We broke up only a couple months after starting our freshman year at college. I was absolutely crushed. The past four years I hadn't known a life without him in it, and I felt lost. I felt unwanted, lonely, and absolutely betrayed.

Towards the end of our relationship, I was having suspicions, doubts, and trust issues. However, I chose to ignore those feelings because I believed wholeheartedly that he wouldn't hurt me. I let myself believe that way for far too long, all the way up to the night that my world seemed to collapse on me.

It has been about nine months since that day, and I'm still trying to close the holes left in my heart. But I am so much better than I was. This whole process of healing has been filled with family and friends rallying around me, encouraging to live my life for myself. I couldn't be more grateful for those people who have kept my spirits up and showed me that I am worthy of more, and I deserve the best this world has to offer.

This journey of finding who I am on my own and loving myself unconditionally has been nothing if not the hardest thing I've ever had to do. I have learned so much about myself, found interests I never thought I would have, and realized that yes, I CAN be happy on my own. I live my life the way that I want to, without trying to please anyone other than myself. I am finding myself happier than I've been in almost four years. I find myself being a better, more available friend.

So yes, your heart may feel like it's in a million pieces, but I promise you things get better. You won't realize it at the moment, it may even take months, but everything happens for a reason. You will stop crying. You will stop doubting yourself. You will learn to love yourself again. You will regain the confidence you had. You will realize how you deserve to be treated.

You will find your next amazing thing. It all takes time.

The waiting and lonely feelings suck, but it's all a part of the grieving of what you had. Brighter days will come. If you're as lucky as I am and have a circle of friends telling you you're better off, someone else will treat you the way you deserve to be treated, and help you take your mind off of it, I promise you, you are the luckiest person in the world.

In time, you will heal. I promise.