“You can’t sit with us” 

I ran away, holding off tears. 

Devastated that my “friends” were no longer my friends. 

But rather than being sad, deep down I was actually relieved. 

This was the 5 second moment when I realized, I no longer had to try to be someone else to fit in. 

I didn’t have to be with the cool kids. 

I didn’t have to rely on other people’s validation.

I could just be me.

P.S. The 11 year old me could never, so this post is for her.