To My Bully,
It's been a month now since everything happened. It's been three months since we quit being friends. You burned my shirt and posted it on social media, calling me hateful names. You thought you could bring me down. You told everyone your goal was "to ruin my life." Guess what? I got into my dream college, and I'll be starting in the fall. I'm also in the top 20 percent of my class there. I have more friends now than I did when we were friends. They supported me when you were dragging my name through the mud, telling lies about me and trying to turn everyone against me.
You blamed your poor school attendance habits on me, telling people you felt "threatened" by me, yet I never talked to you. You claimed I did a lot of things that I never did. You claimed the shirt was yours, yet I have pictures of me in it. If we're being honest here, you threatened me. You made my parents worry about me being able to go out in public. You made them feel as if I wouldn't be safe anywhere. How much further would you go?
I felt alone for much of that time. I was scared to fall back into a dark slump that I wouldn't be able to overcome. I knew I had friends, but the one person that was supposed to always be there was no longer there. You'd give me dirty looks when you saw me in the hall. You'd whisper to your friends when I walked by. You knew I was weak, and you took advantage of it. I still came out strong.
We told each other everything. I still haven't told anyone what you confided in me, and I never will. I thought we would be best friends forever but you proved me wrong. I may have had my moments of weakness throughout all of this but in the end I came out stronger than ever. You didn't ruin my life. You showed me the reasons I have to be happy. You may have knocked me down but I stood up taller.
I can't count the numerous nights I spent crying, the days I dreaded school or the times I felt like giving up. It was all from the pain you caused me yet I continued to grow. I don't know what I ever did to fill you with such evil, and I probably won't ever find that out.
I think everyone comes into our life for a reason. All of the people that surround us have some kind of impact on who we turn out to be. They can open our eyes or make us run the other way. The last thing I have to say to you is thank you. Yes, thank you. You pushed me to my breaking point, and I stayed in one piece. You taught me to stand up for myself and for anyone that is being bullied. I am not your victim and no one else should have to be either.
Sincerely,
The Girl Who Came Out Stronger
