Stand Up, Fight Back: A Story About Being Bullied

This is the story of a little boy in being terrorized by bullies every day. It started on the bus with verbal taunts by bullies to all kids. Everyday they systematically made their way around teasing everyone. When it was my turn for ridicule, I tried to ignore them and hoped they would go away. Eventually the bullies pushed further and more aggressive in their attacks to get a reaction. As they increased pressure, I would retreat further into a dark hole of emptiness to get away. This drove them more and more to hurt me. Eventually I caved and started to cry. Once the tears started coming I couldn't do anything to stop it. I was suffering and the pain was deep in my soul. It was a huge victory for the bullies to get a victim to cry.Later, the attacks became more frequent and more physical. They would slap my head, flick my ears, punch & poke me. They would pull my shoes off and even throw them out the bus window. And the bullying made it's way off the bus and into school, the schoolyard and even out in public places. I couldn't get away. No matter where I went there was a chance those boys would find me. Whether it was in the woods behind our neighborhood, the mall arcade, grocery store or sledding hill behind our church. They were everywhere. Constantly hunting and tormenting me. At least I assumed I was their mission in life. I lived in constant fear, always looking over my shoulder. Always worried they were coming for me. As a 9 old boy, no one should have to live life believing they're being hunted. The level of PTSD I was experiencing is far too much for anyone of that age to deal with.