I outed my bullies after 20 years
If you know ANYTHING about bullying, you should know that ANYONE can be bullied.
TL;DR- outed witchy BRIDEZILLA bully I'd been protecting to keep the peace for decades too long!!!
Back in my 30s, I was casual friends with some girls from my run club.
We talked while we ran and at Starbucks afterward, saw a movie now and then.
One girl had romance drama, but finally he popped the question and we were helping her plan her wedding
BUT: Only child, spoilt, HUGE BRIDEZILLA
Expectations of frequent gifts for multiple showers, destination bridesmaid trips, local wedding but on an island. Drama, tears, vicious retaliation- she turned out to be A LOT!
I had career stuff, heavy stuff, and one day she decided to rally her remaining bridesmaids and "pity me" with lots of malicious giggles and gossip and comments of "pathetic" over weeks into months even on her wedding day!!
This was weird for me, I was a successful corporate type at the time. Saving for a condo, confident in my life. She made me feel embarrassed somehow
And I did not want this to ruin our running group friendships.
So I didn't say anything, had no idea how to defuse her, she seemed experienced at it, but just minimized contact as best I could.
The wedding day, with she and the bridesmaids striking their giggling, mocking pose in the receiving line, I decided to leave and go back home to a family birthday rather than party all night.
I never spoke to her, saw her, attended another event she attended but stayed connected to our mutual friends.
Then today, while getting ready to make plans with one of them---- I realized none of those friends knew what had happened!
So THAT ENDED.
I'd been covering for her for 20 years!!
Just playing it cool, because she made me embarassed and nervous!!
Bye, witch! Hope they reassess your connection!!