"Death and life are in the power of the tongue..."

I'm sorry this happened and keeps on happening to you, Perfectsilence. Maybe those over-aged adolescents thought it was only a joke, or perhaps they did mean to hurt you. You swallowed the hurt and, thankfully, made it back to a place where you could pour a small portion of that hurt into your above post. Thank you for bringing yourself and your post to us.

Too often throughout my life bullies have found me a compliant target. My best defense has been to not be available to them. My second best defense is to not let them see the hurt they're inflicting on me. But their damage remains. I'm angry at them for their cruelty, and I'm angry at myself for being too easy a target.

You know yourself best, Perfectsilence. Reach into your reserves of resistance and wisdom. May you find healing and defenses against these creatures.