I was never a popular child at primary school, but until second year Juniors (or Y4!) kids occasionally talked to me. Then a new boy started. For some reason he took an instant dislike to me, and started pointing out that I “walked funny” and my nails were too long. He gave me a nickname and within days everyone was calling me it - and no-one would play with me. I spent the next two years as a punchbag (verbal and literal), and this only stopped because I chose to go to a school that the majority of my classmates didn’t.
Over the years I’d only seen 2 people from that class, one apologised and said we were just kids, one didn’t remember and was horrified when I told him how much it had affected me.
Fast forward 40 years, I went to the pub, was having a drink with hubby and heard that name - oh look who it is - . And there he was. I ignored him and left when we had finished our drinks.
Last week, first time in months, I went for a quick drink with a friend. Walked into the pub and heard - oh look who is here . I was horrified to find out my friend knows him and that she thinks I was overreacting when I asked to go elsewhere. She did tell him to shut up eventually.
I’m not deliberately holding a grudge but I genuinely feel sick when I see him, and I’ve been a mess since that meeting. My best friend died recently and I lost my job the following week.
My friend wants to meet up in the same pub. AIBU to refuse even if it was 40 years ago?