The Adventures of Julie and Bella 2025

Today at work, I heard a quote that struck a chord deep within me: “A friend that hurts another friend isn’t really a true friend to begin with.” It’s so simple yet speaks volumes. I felt the need to share this because it’s a sentiment I’ve wrestled with all too often lately.

Over the past year, I’ve been hurt repeatedly by someone I thought was a true friend. The kind of pain that comes from betrayal, from someone you trust, isn’t the kind you can easily brush off. It digs deep and leaves scars. A true friend wouldn’t have treated me that way—wouldn’t have put me through that cycle of hurt. Real friendship is supposed to lift us up, support us, and bring positivity into our lives, not pain.

It hasn’t been easy to move forward. I’m putting in the work, bit by bit, to let go of the hurt, but the journey feels like two steps forward and one step back. Some days, I feel strong and confident, like I’m finally free from the pain. Then, something happens—an old memory, a familiar place, or a fleeting thought—and it pulls me back into that ache all over again.

But I know this process is necessary. Healing isn’t linear, and each setback is still a part of my progress. I hold onto the hope that one day, I’ll finally be able to let go fully, leaving this hurt behind so I can embrace happiness with open arms. Until then, I’m taking each day as it comes, reminding myself that true friends don’t leave you hurting; they leave you better than they found you.