#10. I know you are, but what am I?

Guy who bullied me for being “gay” (not liking sports) turned out gay himself and hit on me several years later. He’s a bigger queen now than I ever was.

#9. The observer.

I used to get made fun of in grade school for my clothes and shoes because my parents couldn’t afford to buy me anything new. There was one guy, Miguel, who was the worst about it.

Around this time last year, I went to a McDonald’s and saw him behind the register. I had just gotten freelance work, which could potentially lead to getting hired, at a company I really liked.

He didn’t recognize me, but I definitely knew it was him, especially because of his name tag. I didn’t confront him or anything, because it was years ago and we were kids, but I thought it was interesting how different our lives were.

#8. “After years of being used as a punching bag, simply saying, ‘Yeah we’re okay’ does not do the job.”

Was bullied for about 10 years, 5 years of those by a guy we’ll call Kenny for now. I had switched schools, was doing much better, and I actually had some good friends.

About 4 years after I had last seen him, there was a volleyball-tournament between different schools. And so it turned out, we matched against each other. The moment he saw me, he shouted:”Oh that’s XXXX, we’re definitely going to win now!”

What he apparently didn’t know, was that in those 4 years he hadn’t seen me, I had changed from a small and skinny guy, into a 6’2, 165 lbs guy with a 124 mph tennis serve.

The first time I saw his face again, all the memories came back to me, and for a bit, I was scared again, until one of my friends told me, after I had explained who Kenny was, that I was now taller and stronger than him, and that it was time for some revenge.

Every time I had the opportunity to smash a ball when standing at the net, I would aim for him. The 124 mph tennis serve meant that i had an incredibly strong smash as well, which terrified him.

My team ended up winning the match, after which I shouted:”Hey Kenny, I thought you were so sure you were going to win?” That once sentence, that one time of getting back at him was enough to make him snap. He went berserk, and stormed for me in a fit of rage.

Bring on that 124 mph serve again, and that moment right there, was the first person I ever punched someone… And also the first time I saw someone go K.O. All it took was 1 hit, and it was all over. All the fear, the years of tormenting, they were all over.

I don’t like fighting, and haven’t punched anyone since said punch, but when people say “Violence is not a solution”, bullshit, yes it is. It’s the only way to let go of all those memories. After years of being used as a punching bag, simply saying “Yeah we’re okay” does not do the job. It simply doesn’t.