Let's start by saying, this isn't personal. We've both moved on. We've both found other, better, happier relationships compared to our sorry excuse for "dating." Now, all this time later, it's almost like "we" never happened. Which, frankly, is fine by me. What started out a sweet love story quickly turned toxic. A promising start became me making excuses for you for a year. It turned into you violating the most precious trust two humans can hold together. You cheated.

I had told you everything. My past, my present, all of my issues and struggles, and everything I hoped and aspired to be. You knew my deepest secrets and wishes. But looking back, I never knew you. I poured my soul into our relationship, while you were only there for your personal gain. You used and manipulated me into a robot of a girlfriend who was just desperate to make things work. And then, you cheated.

I constantly dropped everything, including my friends, for you. You called and I came running. You said "I want" and I got whatever it was you wished for.

I. Did. Everything.

And you? You cheated. You took my trust -- that you knew was already damaged from past baggage -- and shattered it. I'm not mad. I never was mad. I was more than mad. I felt violated. I felt like I had done something wrong. Maybe if I wasn't as clingy, or maybe if I had tried harder, or been prettier, or funnier, or skinner, or whatever you wanted that I wasn't. I blamed myself.

I spent the next few months thinking that I was the reason you made a choice to sleep with another woman while looking me in the eyes and saying "I love you." But now, finally, I realize that it was never me. Whatever you had going on in your twisted, selfish head, I genuinely hope you have worked on. I hope you find peace and happiness and clarity. I hope you find a woman who makes you want to be loyal.

But thank you for not letting that woman be me. Thank you for hurting me. Thank you for letting me feel that pain. Because now, that it's in hindsight, I can see that breaking me was the best thing you could have done. We needed out. And she was your out. In a twisted way, she was my out, too, because I would have never walked away willingly. I was too young and too scared and honestly, too stupid.

You also taught me about trust. The type of trust shared between two people who are meant to be together is an amazing thing. It is unwavering and so so sweet. It's something you will only find when you find the one God created for you. A trust I have since found. I am able to appreciate what I have more because of you.

You made me paranoid. You made me feel like I was at fault for your bad decision. You made me feel like less than human. But you taught me how to be strong, how to pull through, and that true friends will be there for you with open arms when you come back into their lives. You taught me that waiting for the right person is important and that when you meet the right person, you will know. You taught me what it feels like to be in a relationship that just isn't right.

I hope my future daughter never finds a boy like you. I hope she never has to have that trust broken.

And, to any other girls out there going through something similar, it is not your fault. You are beautiful, you are fearfully and wonderfully made, and you are perfect how you are. Never let a boy take that away, never let them make you feel less than what you are. Our Lord created you, He molded you in His hands, and He loves you.

Your worth is so much more than any cheating scumbag.