Let's be clear from the start, I don't think being young and dumb is an excuse for the way you treat someone. But, I'm not naive enough to pretend that being 'young and dumb' isn't a factor into the behavior of a lot of teenage boys. Boys will be boys as they say.
I'm sure there's plenty of men out there who weren't exactly gentlemen to their high school girlfriend. I'm sure there's plenty of men out there who grew up and realized how to treat a woman. I'm also sure there's plenty of men out there who lost someone because of the way they treated them. Who because of that, have learned their lesson and now treat their loved ones with the utmost respect. So here's an open letter, to the girl he loves now, who I'm sure will be reading this.
I know you don't exactly like me, for reasons that are pretty clear. The man you love, once loved me with his whole heart. I would expect nothing different and I'd probably be the same way.
I never wanted to see you or speak to you. I never wanted to see pictures of you or y'all together. I'm sure you felt the same.
But, I never wished anything bad for you.
I actually hoped nothing but happiness for you. Even when you wished the worst for me.
I hope he outgrew his childish ways and learned how to forgive and forget. I hope he learned how to hold you when you're sad, and show his appreciation when you go out of your way for him. I hope he learned how to make you feel beautiful, no matter what you were wearing. I hope he shows his friends how important you are to him and never makes you feel like you're in the way. I hope he doesn't take things you can't control, out on you. I hope he never let's his anger get the best of his tongue and he knows how much damage words can do.
I hope your life is full of more 'good morning, I love you' than 'good morning, I'm sorry...'
I hope that because of him, you go to bed happy more nights than not. I hope he learned that if he wants to keep someone he loves, he has to treat them the way they deserve to be treated.
I wasn't really mad that he moved on so quickly. I was mad because I knew he didn't give himself enough time to learn from his mistakes. I never wanted you to be his collateral damage.
I never hoped anything bad for you. I never wanted to take him from you, I knew how that felt. I never wanted to make you feel like you were competing for his attention, I knew how that felt, too.
Stressful times can bring out the worst in someone. The mere thought of losing someone you love, can turn you into someone you don't even recognize. I've been there too, so I know the feeling.
I wish I could say the day I broke up with him was the last time I spoke to him. I'm sure you wish I could say that, too. I can't, though. As rough as the relationship was looking back, there was a time when my world didn't turn without that boy. I'm sure you know the feeling.
Like other open letters ex-girlfriends write to new girlfriends, I don't have to include tips for loving him. Like how to calm him down when he's anxious or make him feel better when his world is crashing. You know all that already. I just wanted you to know, I hope he treats you better.
From,
A girl who deserved better
