I would like to say that I am sad to see you go, but I’m not. In fact, not even the smallest part of me is upset about it. I always thought that you would be in my life for the long haul. I saw you as one of my future bridesmaids and one of my most trusted friends, but you aren’t and you never were. You are an expert at manipulating. You are not only cruel but also a bully, and you try so hard to display a pure image to the rest of the world. Before you get upset, this isn’t a letter to talk negatively about you. Unlike you, I don’t have to put other people down in order to feel confident about myself. Instead, it is an open letter to enlighten others of how situations like these can happen.

We met sophomore year of college. You seemed like such a sweet and kind-hearted girl, and we hit it off instantly. Your infectious smile and laugh brightened my day and it seemed like it was fate when we rushed the same sorority. Not even a year later, we decided to move in together and became closer than ever. We each saw each other go through love, heartbreak and difficult times. We laughed together, had traditions, knew each other’s secrets and genuinely enjoyed one another’s company. I considered you my best friend. I trusted you to not only never judge me but also be the one friend that would never turn her back on me.

It’s clear now that somewhere down the road you changed. You stopped being my friend and roommate, and you started to push me away. In case you couldn’t tell, every time I approached you asking what was wrong it was my attempt to mend the friendship that you had given up on so long ago. When I went out of my way to ask about your life and congratulate you on the good things happening for you that was showing how a friend should act. But all I would ever get back were passive-aggressive comments and lies about how you wanted things to change. You would promise that you would try harder. But when I would ask to spend quality time together, I would always be told that you were “too busy that week” or that you would have to “let me know.” As more time went on, you pulled further away, and I decided that I had exhausted all efforts and gave up on you. That's right, I gave up on you as a person and my friend. I decided to choose myself over making sure that you were OK. Because you know what? You never did for me. I realized that at some point, I had to let you go. I started to see who you really were and chose to not keep you in my life any longer. I guess you finally noticed that I stopped caring, because once I started to push you out you began to hold on, but you didn't deserve me anymore.

My life was healthier without you in it, and I didn’t want you near me any longer. So what did you decide to do? You decided to show up at my house one day and show me who you really were. You didn’t like that I didn’t want you in my life and chose to accuse me of being “crazy” and "nuts." You chose to stand outside my door and scream at me that I “had no friends” and that “no one liked me.” You looked me in my eyes and chose to show not only me but my entire neighborhood the transparent and hateful person that you really were. You chose to be a bully. And I chose me. It took me telling you that I would call the police and wasn’t going to allow you to treat me that way any longer for you to finally let go. But I let go a long time ago.

When you were finally out of my life, I turned to my group of friends that you claimed I didn’t have. Not only are they better than you in every way possible, but they also listen and never judge me. They are honest and respect my opinions. They don’t put me down or insult me. They don't talk behind my back to build themselves up. They lift me up higher and enhance my life, instead of bringing me down with unnecessary drama and overwhelming stress. You were literally a dark cloud looming over my life, and now that you’re gone I feel so much better. I hope that you learn from your mistakes and lost friends and that you never again speak to someone the way you spoke to me.

I don’t have to work hard at making people see who you really are because you’ll do it on your own with time. I wish you the best with whatever path you choose. But I am choosing to take a different path now —

a life with better friends by my side. While you’ll always have to live with the way you treated me, I will continue to look for the best in people. I will continue to cherish the good friendships that I have, and mend the ones that need time and care. I will choose to live a life without negativity and hate brought on by others. In summary, I will choose to live a life without you. So in conclusion, thank you for showing me all of these things, because I’ve never been happier.