Dear My Former Friends,

Hey there. Do you remember me? If you don't, I'll refresh you. I was the friend who always looked out for you. I would listen to your problems and offer as much guidance as I could to help you. I invited you into my house so you could be away from your problems. I sat and listened to you attack me with anything you could, and I didn't say anything.

But now it's my turn.

I do appreciate your friendship for those four years. You were the reason I stayed at that school. I appreciate the inside jokes and random memories we have. Those ridiculous nicknames we had for each other, and that imaginary world where things were perfect. But after high school, what happened?

You left me with no explanation. I'm not playing innocent here and making it seem like I did nothing wrong. But I don't know what I did wrong. No one ever told me. I followed your influence. If you were negative around me, I started to believe that negativity was the best way to go. If you hit me, I would sit and take it because I didn't know what else to do. If you started to insult me, I just accepted it and let myself believe that everything you said was true.

I'm not going to say that I hated every moment of high school because of you. But a certain point came and I realized that this overall friendship was abusive and I had to get out immediately. I had other friends, but if I mentioned them, I received eye rolls and nasty remarks. I felt it was unfair to me for the sole reason of me not knowing what I did.

Had you told me why you would stop talking to me, I wouldn't have written you off in my book. I'm not going to be an awful person and never speak to you if you message me. But I'm not going to sit and give you the praise you want. It's just not happening.

I remember the nasty comments you would say to me, and that plays a huge part in who I am today. If you want to believe that I'm a terrible and mean person, that's fine. But I'm not. I have amazing friends now and I wish you could know about them. But you don't care. I'm an online writer, but it's not good enough because I wasn't the first one to do something like this. I was cast in a show, but I guess it doesn't really matter because I'm not important to you.

I hope you're enjoying your college experience. I hope you made some great friends and don't have to think about me. I'm fine with being a distant memory to you. It's okay to move on. I encourage it. The less you think about me, the easier it will be for everyone. I'm writing this now not to be vindictive or bitter, but to help me move on. I can clearly see that you have, but I try to understand things from each point of view. And I'm trying to see yours.

So thank you for taking the time to read this if you have. I wish you the best, I truly do.

Sincerely,
Your Friend From High School