Imagine encountering a childhood bully several years later, and getting asked out on a date. That’s exactly what happened to 22-year-old Oxford University student Louisa Manning.
The way she handled the awkward situation is quickly going viral.
Manning’s initial reaction to being asked on a date by a man who as a teen had made fun of her weight and called her a “manbeast” was to decline. But then she decided to accept the date, and stand him up, leaving a letter for him to realize the negative impact his bullying actions had on her as an adolescent.
Manning says the verbal harassment she received at school caused her to develop an eating disorder.
After apologizing for standing him up, Manning writes, “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.”
She proceeds to call him and his school buddies out for other slurs she endured from them on a daily basis.
Wrapping up the letter, she writes, “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.”
The letter worked. The bully has since apologized to her.
For the record, this is what Manning looks like now.
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