I had a really traumatic period of time in grade 10 where I was really depressed and sick. I thought I was in love with the girl that a few houses down from me. We grew up together, I’ve known her since I was seven. During grade ten, the only time she would show any care or affection to me was when I was hurting, so my hurting just kept getting worse and worse until I was stuck hurting myself as a habit since I was getting used to the pain. But when I was hurting, she would comfort me and hug me and hold my hand. I would do anything to feel loved, and I had believed I was in love with her. Stuck in the cycle of hurting, I kept going down and down until I almost died one day. I was so sick and hurt and dying. It was then that she broke it to me that she did not love me. I’m not the same person anymore now that I’m back out in the world. I don’t miss my old self, and I know that my love for her wasn’t real. That wasn’t love. How could it be if it was hurting me in return? I am a stronger person now. There are people here that love me for me and don’t come running only when I’m dying. Never settle for a love that hurts you. Ever. That’s not love. I promise. Now I’m with a girl that loves me like I’m the most amazing thing she has ever seen. She loves me no matter how I am feeling, and makes me feel worth it, not only when I’m feeling down but when I’m at my very best as well. I love her, and this is not at all what I felt with the last girl, even though I believed at the time that was what love felt like. That is how I know that I never loved the last girl and I should never have done what I had done to try and make myself noticeable to her. I am strong and worth it and I deserve to be healthy.