For many people, being bullied in school was something they experienced. Some people were teased lightly, but others were verbally taunted or physically bullied. These experiences stay with a person forever, no matter how big or small. A person who has been bullied never forgets.
So, when Louisa Manning was contacted by someone who bullied her as a kid and was asked out, she took the opportunity to get some revenge.
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Being bullied is the worst.
It’s a sure way to make someone feel terrible about themselves. It can push people to the edge and damage their self-esteem, self-worth, and confidence.
Anyone who has been bullied knows it can be hard to move on.
Some people never really do. Forgiving and forgetting aren’t things that come easily to someone who has been tormented.
There are few things better than hearing about victims getting revenge on their bullies, or hearing about bullies sincerely apologizing years later.
People can change, but victims of bullying also need to learn to forgive when they can.
One girl who was bullied when she was younger never forgot, and the consequences of the bullying led her down a difficult and painful path.
But with the help of karma, she was able to get her revenge.
When she was 12 years old, Louisa Manning was bullied about her weight and for being hairy.
She was nicknamed “manbeast.” She eventually developed an eating disorder, and her self-esteem and confidence suffered.
When she was going to St. Peter’s College at Oxford eight years later, she bumped into one of the guys who had bullied her.
The really surprising part is that he asked her out.
She was pretty angry that after being bullied for being “ugly,” this guy was suddenly interested in her now that she was “attractive.”
Instead of turning him down, she said yes. But she had a plan.
They planned to meet at a restaurant, but Louisa got there a little bit early.
She gave a letter to the waitress and asked her to give it to her date when he got there.
When Louisa’s date arrived, he was given a note and a picture of Louisa when she was 12.
” Hey [name obscured],
So sorry I can’t join you tonight.
Remember year 8, when I was fat and you made fun of my weight? No? I do – I spent the following three years eating less than an apple a day. So I’ve decided to skip dinner.
“Remember the monobrow you mocked?
“The hairy legs you were disgusted by? Remember how every day for three years, you and your friends called me Manbeast? No perhaps you don’t – or you wouldn’t have seen how I look eight years later and deemed me f***able enough to treat me like a human being.
“I thought I’d send you this as a reminder. Next time you think of me, picture that girl in this photo, because she’s the one who just stood you up. Louisa.”
That wasn’t the end though, because they guy reached out to apologize.
“Hey…For what it’s worth, I was actually here looking for a chance to meet up looking to make friends, not because you are very good looking.
“I guess I had it coming though, and certainly don’t blame you for standing me up.”
“I can’t change who I was 8 years ago, and I won’t insult your intelligence by pretending that it didn’t happen, but I hope you believe me when I say I’m a completely different person now.”
“I can only apologise and wish you the very best.
“I guess I won’t hear from you again but I mean it when I say that I hope you have every success you deserve.”
For people who were terribly bullied as a child, Louisa is a hero.
But I can also appreciate the fact that this guy did apologize and went out of his way to do so.
I can’t say I’d forgive the people who bullied me, but I wouldn’t turn down an apology from them either.
Would you be willing to listen to someone who bullied you, or would you get revenge on them just like Louisa?
