Absolutely terrible. I was in a love with a guy for years as a teenager and he knew it. We went through a cycle for almost two years where he would begin talking to me, acting like he was really into me, talking about all the things we would do together and he would get my hopes up for about a month or so, then would suddenly start acting like I didn't matter and was honestly at times verbally and emotionally abusive, only for him to decide he liked me again a few weeks later. I told myself that it was my fault and that every time he changed his mind I had done something wrong. He would tell me about the other girls he went on dates with and how much better than me they were. I was close to depression and wouldn't have made it through without my friends.

I would like to say that I finally grew some balls and took myself out of the situation but it ended when he started seriously dating another girl. I was devastated and wondered what I could have changed about myself to make him love me back. It's embarrassing to say but even after he was dating this new girl, I continued to text him every so often just to see if he was even giving me a second thought.

About a year after the fallout, I met the man who is now my husband, who treated me with respect and loved me for who I was. I didn't have to worry about changing myself because I knew that he didn't want me to. Even with this incredible relationship to stand on, it still took years to heal, and I still have doubts about myself some days. I didn't know what love even was back then, but when you're sixteen and you give everything you have to someone else, you never think your heart will be abused in that way. I'm so happy now, but I wish I could tell my younger self that he's not worth it.