Middle school is a rough time for any pre-teen. But nothing feels better than getting back at mean bullies who made the experience even worst. Just ask Lousia Manning.
While revenge is not always the best answer, the University of Oxford student rightfully put her bully in his place after he had the nerve to ask her out eight years after he taunted and teased her.
During her middle school years, fellow classmates picked on Manning, calling her a "manbeast," "hairy," and "ugly." Because of the repeated abuse, Manning suffered from anxiety, low-self esteem and an eating disorder.
Guess they never heard the story of the Ugly Ducking.
Last Friday at a university ball, the beautiful 22-year-old unexpectedly ran into one of the boys who bullied her. Although the two recognized each other, her former bully did not bring up the torment he caused when she was just 12-years-old. Days after the encounter, he had the nerve to ask her out on a date on Facebook.
"I was pretty pissed off he asked me out, to be honest," Manning says. " It really made me angry that now I'm attractive, he instantly wants to jump into bed with me."
While most women would instantly turn the jerk down, Manning used the date as an opportunity to stand up for herself. She agreed to the date, got to the restaurant early to drop off an epic letter and a childhood photo to be given to her bully. When the guy showed up, the waitress slipped him the letter that says the following:
Hey [name obscured],
So sorry I can't join you tonight.
Remember year 8, when I was fat and you made fun of my weight? No? I do - I spent the following three years eating less than an apple a day. So I've decided to skip dinner.
Remember the monobrow you mocked? The hairy legs you were disgusted by? Remember how every day for three years, you and your friends called me Manbeast? No perhaps you don't - or you wouldn't have seen how I look eight years later and deemed me fuckable enough to treat me like a human being.
I thought I'd send you this as a reminder. Next time you think of me, picture that girl in this photo, because she's the one who just stood you up.
Louisa.
Manning posted the note to Facebook which caused her bully to apologize in a message.
The message reads:
Hey... For what it's worth, I was actually here to meet up looking for a chance to meet up looking to make friends, not because you are very good looking. I guess I had it coming though, and certainly don't blame you for standing me up.
I can't change who I was 8 years ago, and I won't insult your intelligence by pretending that it didn't happen, but I hope you believe me when I say I'm a completely different person now. I can only apologise and wish you the very best. I guess I won't hear from you again but I mean it when I say that I hope you have every success you deserve.
"It's 10 years too late... but it's still an apology and it's still amazing I got one," Manning said.
Manning continues to move forward from her past, but this story goes to show you that karma can come back to you.
[Photo Credit: Daniel Borman/Flickr]
