My name is Andrew. I am tormented by memories of the past. People have always told me to forgive and forget. Learn a lesson from the event and move on. Accept what happened and look upon it as an experience that could benefit you in the future. Do these people know what it is like to be bullied and humiliated? Do they know what it’s like to suffer from major anxiety? Why should I forgive those scumbags who enjoy making my life a misery? Why can’t I make them suffer like they made me suffer? They have stopped me from moving on and making something of my life so why can’t I do the same to them?
What makes these bullies do what they do? Why can’t they accept that everyone has the right to live a peaceful and prosperous life? Why do they look for excuses to bully people with disabilities or mental health problems? What is wrong with being born in a different country or with a different skin colour other than white? Do they understand that this is not a crime? Do they also not understand that people don’t choose to be gay? Don’t they understand that their bit of fun ruins entire lives?
Indeed, they do understand. They just don’t care. They thrive on controlling the weak. They love the rush of power as their victims’ tremble helplessly before them. There is no need for them to use violence most of the time as harsh threatening words do the job. Yes, I have suffered violence from these evil excuses for human beings but it is the psychological pain that stays with me long after the psychical pain has healed.
For many years I dreamed of inflicting both psychical and psychological pain on these bullies. I delighted in the screams of mercy while I laughed in their faces. I imagined putting them through so much torture that they would live the rest of their lives clouded in insanity. They would never forget what I did to them as I could never forget what they did to me. I would make sure they remembered my final words to them, asking them if they found it funny to torment me and how does it feel to have it done back to them – how it feels to never be able to get revenge.
This all happened many years ago. The bullies are long gone from my life but the memories continue to torture me. I trained heavily in various martial arts to punish those who tried to hurt me in the future. This was the answer to make sure any bullies who tried to attack me will never be successful. I shall be the one laughing now.
After years of suffering, I finally got justice? But not in the way I thought. I managed to track down each of the bullies. I cornered each one separately and reminded them what they did to me. I expected them to laugh at me so I would have an excuse to carry out my dreams of punishment that I have replayed in my mind all these years.
But instead of mocking laughter, I saw sorrow and regret. I heard cries of mercy and forgiveness as each one told me their own sad stories. Because of the bullying ways they too had suffered. Their deeds had landed them in jail where they suffered many beatings, lost their girlfriends, got rejected by society, and lost out on twenty years of their lives which they could have used to do something more beneficial.
I learned a valuable lesson on this day. I learned that there was no need for revenge as life finds a way of punishing the wicked at the earliest possible opportunity. I remember the saying: What goes around comes around. Those who think they can get away with their evil deeds are foolish because they will always be punished in some form – even if it’s not from their victim. Finally, I had found a way to forgive because I know they hadn’t got away with it.
My friends, never worry about what people have done to you. Continue to live your life in the knowledge that justice is already taken care of. This is a valuable lesson and I have learned and now pass it onto you.