Why Now?

I was listening to the news this morning about a girl who committed suicide because her classmates were picking on her. Now, I remember bullies from my school days. They weren't THAT long ago, and besides, you never forget your bullies.

I have to separate them from the preps and when I do there was one girl. She was the bully. She came from a pretty intimidating family that acted tough and sounded tough. I realize now that they were mainly uneducated. However, she was mean. She swore, she picked on kids smaller than her, she ignored the bus driver. I hated her and feared her, because I wasn't tough. I pretty much left well-enough alone and stuck my nose in a book. I still do.

That said, nothing this girl did could've made me want to die. I was pretty horrified the day I stood up to her and punched her in the face for picking on my little brother, and I lived in fear that night that her family would retaliate and kill me. That never happened. In fact, she never bothered me again. I ignored her and she eventually left me alone. In fact, I have no memories of her after the incident.

The thing I want to say, and that I wish kids would understand, is that this too shall pass. It's more prevalent and easier to bully than ever before. I don't know what it's like out there. I never really had to deal with gangs or drugs or random violence. But if you survive without someone physically brutalizing you there is a light at the end of the tunnel. These kids that were so mean do eventually grow up. They eventually get jobs and worry about their own kids. Some of them become successful. Some of them don't. Sometimes you run into them at the grocery store and they haven't changed at all. Sometimes they still look like the dirty no good grit that totally bashed you in school. Only this time if they say anything they know they're going to sound like they're in grade school so they don't. And you know better. And as you leave the store you can hold your head high because you were the bigger person. Just like you were in school. Everyone grows up.

Unfortunately, this poor little girl couldn't see past the pain these kids inflicted. I'm glad they're being prosecuted. I'm glad they have to pay for their actions. It's been too long that kids have been able to get away with murder. My heartfelt sorrow reaches out to that poor girl's family. My prayers go to the perp's families, and for the bullies- may the lord God have mercy on your souls. You should be ashamed of yourselves.