Almost 3 years ago I met him, and thought he was the love of my life. We shared memories that I will never forget. Memories that I never want to forget; but I know now that our chapter must come to an end. Like every relationship we had our problems. Some worse than others, but I never thought that he would do the unthinkable: cheat. When I found out about his night with her I didn’t know whether to scream, cry, slash his tires, or sit in silence. I blamed it on myself and thought, “What could I possibly have done to not be good enough for him?” I didn’t eat, I couldn’t sleep, and I had an anxiety attack at least once a day. For 3 years I functioned with him, and now I had to become a new person without him.
Being cheated on screws you up. You think about every single thing someone says to you twice. Shit, maybe even three times trying to figure out whether they were lying to you or if they really meant what they said. This letter isn’t to exploit him for what he did, but to say thanks. I accepted less than I deserved for a very long time, but I will know better next time, and won’t settle for anything less than I deserve. I am stronger because of the pain I went through. I picked up the pieces of my broken heart, got myself together, and moved on.
Thank you for showing me what true love isn’t.
I hope one day I will find a man who will love me with a love that is true and kind and whole. And this awaits us all. I know I’m not the only one who has had an experience like this. But don’t let him ruin your chances to create happier memories without him.
Thank you for showing me just how much I can take, and for showing me when to walk away from an unhealthy situation.
I now know that I’m strong enough to walk away. I now know what it looks like when someone doesn’t care, and I hope to be blessed with someone who will show me what it looks like when someone does. I learned that I want a man who will show me off. A man who loves me unconditionally, and always makes me feel comfortable in any situation.
Thank you for not caring.
 I don’t blame him for what he did, because I now know that he didn’t truly love me. Whether or not he meant to break my heart, he did. I could hate him for that, but I don’t. I could lie and tell everyone I didn’t cry myself to sleep at night, but I did. To all the girls out there who feel the way that I felt, it will get better. You will move on and you will be happy. Even though you can’t see it right now, there is something brighter and better waiting for you in the future. You are strong, you are brave, and you are beautiful.
Thank the boy who cheated, because he opened up a pathway that will lead you to a man who never will. Â