i have this one friend, i met him when i was in 8th grade but we didn’t really become super close until the summer before 10th. we started talking a lot and he would invite me to hang out with his other friends, i always had a lot of fun. school started and i was always by him. i had recently been broken up with so he was helping me through it. at the time i identified as lesbian, and he would say some really weird things like “if (my name) was straight we would be dating” and “i turned you lesbian” i would laugh it off but it always left weird to me. i had gotten into a new relationship and i was really happy. once i was in my relationship i noticed he became very clingy like he only wanted me for himself. he became very touchy and it made me really uncomfortable. he would make comments on my body and very sexual jokes involving me. he’s the first man i’ve ever felt comfortable with bc of certain things but now i dread going to school because of the things he says and does. i broke up with my gf and he still was clingy. i told him why i hate people touching me and he said “i’ll never do it again, or make comments about you.” now he will put his arm around my shoulder and i would shrug it off and he would say “sorry” but it never sounded sincere. he still makes comments about my body and idk what to do.

I been thinking real hard about even relaying these awful things about the person that I have admired the most, the person I have respected and revered my whole life but that now, has completely backstabbed me in the worst way possible. A few years ago, a scandal broke in my political family involving my mother. As you can imagine, it nearly broke my marriage and tore my husband’s family apart. My sister in law found my father in law and my mom talking on social media. The worst part of it, when I was confronted, I was accused of knowing about the whole affair and made it looked like I was an accomplice to the whole ordeal. When I had absolutely no clue to such a disgusting mess. I don’t know what neither of them were trying to accomplish and now, I’m the black sheep of the family. No one talks to me. While my father in law is still loved and honored. My mother the home wrecker and I pay the sins of her ordeals. She never once has said I’m sorry. Never! In her head, I’m better off without that side of the family. But it’s not about that; why did she do this to me? Why my father in law? Among so many men? Why him! I guess I’m just looking for an explanation and I know I will never get it from her. Because she just cannot accept she did anything wrong. I wish I could get her version because as of now, I only know everyone else’s but her’s. I always thought I didn’t need to hear her side because it’s not my place to question her, but I have kids who now have to suffer for her sins as well. I don’t think it’s fair to them either. I guess the damage is done as well and the past is the past. I won’t get nothing accomplished but I just want an acknowledgment from her part that she messed up.

• August 12, 2023