I was sixteen when my parents died in a car accident.

After the tragedy, I completely fell apart.

I often ate to cope with my grief. On top of that, I was taking antidepressants, which made things even worse. In just one year, I gained more than sixty pounds.

At the time, I was dating Jason, who was in my class.

Honestly, I really hoped he would support me and understand what I was going through, but instead, he kept making comments like:

“Oh my God, Emily, maybe it’s time to hit the gym?”

Or:

“Why don’t you leave the classroom first, and then I’ll go? I don’t want anyone seeing us together. It’s embarrassing.”

Then I found out he was cheating on me with a girl from another class named Katherine. She was pretty and popular.

When I found out and confronted Jason about it, he just shrugged and said:

“Why are you surprised? Have you looked at her and then looked at yourself? Of course I’d rather be with someone like Katherine!”

It hurt so much.

Back then, it felt like I was completely alone.

I counted down the days until graduation because I just wanted to get out of that school, never see Jason or Katherine again, and stop hearing their jokes behind my back.

After graduation, I moved to another city for college and never saw either of them again.

Over time, I pulled myself together. I started eating better and exercising.

I got back in shape and simply moved on with my life.

Then one day, I got an email inviting me to our high school reunion.

It had already been 20 years since graduation. I decided to go.

I put on a beautiful dress, bought a new pair of heels, and went to see my old classmates.

The evening was going great until Jason suddenly walked into the restaurant.

And right next to him was his wife, Katherine.

Yes, it was the same Katherine he’d cheated on me with back in high school.

I recognized him immediately, but I took a seat at the far end of the bar and honestly hoped he wouldn’t notice me in the crowd.

But of course, Jason walked straight over to me.

He bought me a drink and said:

“I can’t place you. Were we in any classes together?”

And that’s when I realized it. Jason had no idea who I was.

He kept flirting with me, telling me how beautiful I was while his wife was on the other side of the room.

He even joked about how Katherine had “really let herself go” after having three kids.

“Oh yes, Jason. I remember how much you love making fun of people,” I thought.

Then Jason leaned closer and suggested we continue our conversation somewhere quieter.

God, he hadn’t changed at all.

But then I got an idea. It was time for Jason to learn a lesson.

I smiled and said:

“Sure, but give me ten minutes. I’m just going to run to the restroom and freshen up.”

Then I called someone and asked him to come as quickly as possible.

I met him outside and brought him straight over to Jason.

Jason screamed so loudly that everyone turned around to see what had happened.

And I smiled so sweetly that my grin could probably have been seen from space.

When I saw Jason at our high-school reunion, every painful memory came rushing back. At sixteen, I had lost both my parents and gained sixty pounds while struggling with grief. Jason, my boyfriend, responded with cruel comments about my appearance and eventually cheated on me with Katherine, one of the most popular girls at school.

When I confronted him, he told me I should have expected it because of the way I looked. My older brother Daniel wanted to confront him, but I begged him not to. After graduation, I left for college, rebuilt my life, and eventually learned to stop hearing Jason’s voice whenever I looked in the mirror.

Twenty years later, I arrived at the reunion feeling confident in a dark green dress and heels. Then I spotted Jason bragging about his successful businesses, expensive house, and brand-new Porsche. He didn’t recognize me. Worse, he started flirting with me and casually insulted Katherine, his wife.