Dear Bully

16

"It's okay, I'm here for you."

Daniel hugged me, my whole body shakes from being so overwhelmed as he rubs my back. His height towering over me as his head rests on top of mine. Shocked, I tried to pull away, but the grasp was too tight to break free. I'd say per usual, but I've never been embraced by him in this way, only harmed. This display of emotion is puzzling to fully interpret so my only option is continuing my wailing. Crying not only because Alex cheated on me, but because Daniel, my bully, was now comforting me.

"Daniel...," I whisper, almost terrified to speak to him, "p-please do not touch me."

"I'm sorry," he pulls back with his hands up in the air to show he means no harm, and continues to apologize," I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm so so so-"

"No," I meekly whisper, still shaking with fear and refraining from looking into his eyes as he continues his blubbering. I stare at my feet that fidget on the checkered flooring.

I notice my shoelace has become untied as I overanalyze every word I want to express in my head before I commit to saying them. While Daniel and I have never held a lengthy conversation before, he could be like Alex, very unpredictable and ready to snap if the wrong thing is stated. I'm starting to think Daniel could be bipolar from all the stories Alex once told me while he was apart of your friend group, but now I don't know what to believe or with the way Daniel, himself, is treating me in this moment. His demeanor has taken a complete 180° since Shelby is no longer constantly by his side.

Maybe it really was the ex-girlfriend all along, but that still don't straighten things out nor make anything better.

"Sorry isn't gonna cut," I quietly express, my lip begins to quiver. His pleading ceases and his face goes expressionless, but I continue my speech with no hesitation, "not this time, next time, or anytime. You bully me Daniel and that's how it's always been. You are not my friend so please stop acting like one. We will never be friends with the amount of hurt you caused me physically, mentally, emotionally, or any category I may list. Now... please just go back to leaving me alone. We both were clearly better off that way."

I peer up for a moment to get a glimpse of his reaction to my words, but not even a second later he stands directly before me and his hand makes contact with my face, slapping me with full force. I didn't make a sound and I left my expression emotionless as I hold in my yelp from the contact and my cheek turning red from the irritation his hand caused to my skin. I wanted to prove to him that he no longer scared me. His face looked crestfallen from my lack of emotion in my face or maybe he was realizing how much of a monster he truly is. In just a blink of time, he was already storming out of the janitor's closet, leaving me there in utter silence and shock.

I was angry, sad, and a rush of panic flooded down upon me. So many events just happened all at once. I shake my head, to bring me back to reality.