Girl hurts friend with terrible lie

The girl I’ve been calling my best friend for years has just done the worst possible thing. She made up a story about me that was horrible and then told it to everybody in our grade. We are in middle school. I am so upset. My mother told me to get over it, but how do I do that? I have to go to school with all these kids who now think I am a terrible person. I tried to talk to my friend about it, but now all of a sudden she doesn’t want to talk to me. I know my mom reads your column, so I was wondering what you think I should do?

When your friends choose to hurt you, it can be devastating. To lie about you with the intention of turning people against you is cruel. You should go to your teacher and principal to report what you believe your friend did. Be as precise as possible and bring any backup information that can prove what you are suggesting she did. If you have emails or social media postings that point to the story, bring those. If other students have told you that your friend shared the lie with them, give their names to the teacher and principal. As scary as it may seem to report this behavior, it is important. People should not get away with slandering someone’s name. This is a form of bullying.

It is time to make new friends. I know that isn’t easy, especially when you are feeling sad and hurt, but this girl is no friend of yours if she is trying to hurt you.