Dear Boy Who Didn't Appreciate Me,

Thank you. Thank you for showing me that I could care so much for the wrong person. Thank you for making it so painfully obvious when the right people came into my life because of the contrast of you. I have realized that so many people love and care for me—more than you can begin to imagine. Maybe you need time to grow up or ‘figure things out.' Maybe you weren't ready for the caring I could give you. Maybe you were scared. But the thing is—life is scary. And you're always going to be ‘figuring things out.' And the truth is, you're just not worth waiting for. Don't take it personally because this isn't supposed to be bitter or resentful; this is just me moving on and letting go.

We've had our many moments. And I will never minimize or disregard them because they happened and—at some point—they were an important piece of me. There were funny pieces full of laughter and smiles, and others where you ended up holding me until I stopped crying. I liked the pieces where we could tell each other things we couldn't tell anyone else. And I liked all of our inside jokes that no one seemed to get. I disliked our fights. And then we kept fighting. Things kept being said that weren't actually meant. I stopped telling you things because you were never around. Then it seemed like you weren't putting in any effort at all. Because in reality, you never really were. The closer I got, the more you pushed me away. So now, I'm pushing myself away. The thing with any one-sided relationship is that it's lonely and it’s frustrating. I put up with your selfish ways for too long and it was exhausting. I spent time thinking about you when there were infinitely more important things.

Letting you go was initially hard. Amidst everything, you were still my best friend. I threw myself into schoolwork and my new life. The busier I became, the less you entered my mind. The more friends I made, the less I missed you. What was once a whole day without thinking about you became a whole week, then a month. Then you became irrelevant to this new life that I love. This new life with my real friends and family who would do anything for me and whom I cherish. This new life that made me realize that I didn't deserve the way you treated me. And if someone isn't a positive person in my life, they don't need to be in it.

So I do hope you ‘figure it out’ and grow up. I wish you the best and that you find the right person who you aren't afraid to care for as much as I once cared for you. Although this person is not me I am perfectly fine, because I deserve better. I've moved on and I've realized that I never needed you to appreciate me. I needed me to appreciate me, and now I do.

Sincerely,