Ouch. That's a whole lot of pain in one short story. I'm sorry you were on the receiving end of so much misery - and I'm extra sorry that you lost your brother - your hero - and on Christmas Day. That's just too awful!

And thank you for mentioning me. I'm glad my article could help just a little.

There will always be creeps and users out there to take advantage of those of us who trust, who love freely, who give because they can...and one of the most important lessons I've learned is that their bad behaviour has absolutely nothing to do with us. It's no reflection on who we are. Just because they treat us badly, it doesn't mean we deserve it. And therefore, we should really be shaking our heads in astonishment that they can be such nasty pinheads and leave them to it.

When we allow ourselves to feel bad because others treat us badly, we're handing them our happiness. And for what?? They can keep their nasty thoughts about us, their insults, their accusations, their selfishness - whatever else they want to throw at us. We don't have to take it on. Just know that they are who they are, and nothing's going to change it. And walk away with your head held high because their crap treatment of us is not about us!!

You're a kind and generous soul and you deserve all the love and thoughtfulness in the world. Leave the pinhead to his idiot friends and anyone else he wants to treat like crap. It's got nothing to do with you.