This was not a comment that anyone made about me, but rather one I made about someone that still sticks with me today.

When I was in 5th grade, I was on a swim team with a number of my classmates. One of them was a girl I disliked, mainly because she was mean to me and teased me a lot. I recall watching a swimmer I thought was her, and saying something to the effect of “I can’t believe Leslie [not her name] can even fit in her bathing suit.” I don’t recall exactly what I said, but it was definitely fat-shaming and nasty. She was standing right behind me, clearly heard me, and I tried, very poorly, to act like I was talking about someone else, and then she walked away.

It didn’t seem to affect her in the long run, we were on the same singing groups, and while we were never friends, we were at least cordial. But I always felt guilty and awful for having said that about her, no matter how mean she was to me. I really hope she forgot all about it, but I wouldn’t blame her if she resented me for that comment. Sigh.