To The Girl Who Thinks She Still Needs Him,

Perhaps it was a "guy friend" who turned out to be so much more than just a friend. After weeks (or months) of texting, he starts to keep his distance a little more, begins to act shady and even comes off a bit rude when he answers you back. He seems to always be "so busy and stressed" or has a reading, test or quiz he just somehow forgot about until the night before. You don't care; you still want to see him, to feel his warmth against your body after a weekend full of drunk shenanigans, dancing and partying. You think about your times together, and that one moment in particular when you realized how much you actually liked him, despite his rude behavior, blowing you off and frankly acting sketchy all around. Regardless of whoever this boy was to you, he has proved to you through his actions that you do not need him in your life.

"He's such a dick. Do not talk to him - you can do so much better than that and do not deserve this," is what our friends tell us. I've heard this countless times, and, in many situations, I am often the one telling this to others. But perhaps now its time that I pass this onto you, as you read this and let the old memories play out in your mind while you feel helpless, lost and confused.

It is hard to let go; you keep making excuses for him. "He didn't mean to," "He was drunk" or "He doesn't owe me anything," is what you're probably telling yourself right about now. The one thing he does and will always owe you, however, is respect. To walk you back to your dorm when you want to head back. To answer your texts when you reach out. To have the decency to cancel plans instead of blowing you off. Whatever the situation may be, you deserve resepect.

I pass this advice onto you just as my friends have passed on to me. You and your life will go on without him and you will find someone better, even though it may not seem possible (I guarentee it). It will be hard, even agonizing at first, to put the phone down, delete his number and lose your streak on Snapchat, but you will prove to yourself in the end that you are worth it. You have dignity. You have pride, and you will demand the respect that you need, and if he doesn't give it to you? Ef him.

I beg you to not blame yourself, to stop wasting your tears and energy on him when he doesn't even waste a minute of his time to type to you a response. You are amazing, worth it, important and deserve to be treated like a decent human being. I promise.

With Love,

A Girl Who Is Learning