I apologize in advance, if my story is jumbled here and there and may confuse you.
At age 15, I was befriended by female grade 12’er her name, Mariann, in high school. Things were all good, Mariann and I stayed friends, Her family moved 2 blocks away from my house, one time she joked saying it was closer to my house. But I never found it was anything. It wasn’t until she mentioned she had a “younger” half-brother who was very much interested in meeting me, he saw my profile on one of those websites(e.g friendster), that things became a little more interesting.
At this time also, my childhood friends whom I known for 10 years or more turned their backs on me when I became the “popular” girl in school. It was hard to learn and deal with the rumors and upfront b.s talking in class. etc. etc..
Back to the brother—“He” didn’t go to the same school, lived with his real mom, Mariann she spoke so highly of him. He appeared to be a nice guy, But… stupid me, I “hoped” I would meet him one day just because she kept talking about him.
I never met “him” in real life, only through the internet which I never let myself truly believe it was real. Although, exchanging pictures and emails to one another was pretty much it. This “guy” apparently fell in love with me, he appeared nice, honest, overall a good person. The only thing holding me back from believing this is true was a physical opportunity to meet this person. There were plenty of times he would say, that we were at the same place same time but nothing happened?! (I’ll be honest, this prolonged because I began to care for this “guy” I never met, but as an internet friend. It made sense to me, that we should have met because if he liked me so much than its better to meet in person. He said it was too early and he was tooo shy. So I obliged still keeping my guard up. )
Through-out the year-and some months long friendship, she had a bountiful stories of her “brother” and only a couple people (her long long long time friends-who I think never knew the true story why and how I met her in the first place) to back it up and followed by photos. At first it became hard to believe all this was true, I wanted to many times just tell her to f*-off and get out of this confusing mess. But she was a really good friend, never made any gestures that she was a psycho or anything.
I eventually, stopped talking to her one day when I caught her talking to herself, and it was an actual conversation she had with herself. I got completely creeped out, and started to put the pieces together. She rebelled and vandalized my house, abused my dogs, and stalked me for few days school and work before 2 restraining orders were put on her. One day had her mom, come to my work in person, to tell me that this “guy” i chat with was her step-son.
Long long story short, through a lot of manipulation, I found out she was behind the rumors, losing my childhood friends, moving 2 blocks away, and was behind the mysterious “guy” was her all along.
I honestly had a feeling something was up, but there was never enough evidence to prove my suspicion was true. The friendship with her was through my eyes, a regular friendship you have with a chick. Chill, gossip, shopping, coffee. and that’s it.
—
I was too scared and absolutely embarrassed to tell anyone. I was scared of what anyone would say. I told my parents she was just a friend who had some mental issues when the house got vandalized.
I felt manipulated, disgusted, violated I let this happen to myself. and ever since then, I find I have trouble in areas of trusting new people I met, old friends, it’s also the time of me losing my childhood friends has affected my self-esteem.
I’m tired of carrying this baggage, I’ve tried to let it go, but it’s still there.
