@violetmadder
I was suspended from school for 2 weeks. The bully got off with less than a week. He never bullied me or anyone else again though. In grade 9 - many years later, he ended up approaching me at jr. high & apologized for picking on me when we were younger. He confessed that he never really had anything against me or any other POC kids but his parents hated people who weren't white & taught him to hate POC kids. His parents were abusive to him behind closed doors & he ended up in foster care. I was approached by him, with a genuine apology & we talked for 2 hours straight. This was 4 years into his foster family life. He got help/support for the CA endured & had changed a lot. I hugged him afterwards & told him that I forgive him. I told him that I'm thankful for his apology & that I'm sorry he had such awful parents because all kids deserve to have loving parents & a safe home.

Sometimes, we are lucky enough to make peace with our former bullies.

@beadsland @Quasit

#Forgiveness #FullCircle #MutualHealing #AntiBullying #PeopleCanChange