My Side of The Story

The Story

Hi. My name is Tyler. Well, actually, that's not my name, but I'll reveal that later.

I'm not doing this to defend myself, or get you to feel bad for me and take my side. I owe you guys an explanation. After almost a year, you deserve one.

Before you leave a hate comment about how fucked up this was, how wrong it was, believe me, I know, and I already hate myself for it.

I don't remember all the details, and I don't have the receipts to refresh my memory. So I'll try my best to tell you guys what happened, but there will probably be gaps.

It started as a friendship, and became a lie that got way out of hand. I was 13, and I joined Wattpad. I don't remember how, but I stumbled across Andy's book.

I clicked read, and realised I was non-binary (fast forward to now, I realised I was cis, and I'll explain that later.) and messaged them on skype.

After months of messaging, I realised I had a crush. I don't remember what happened after that, but eventually I told them and we dated for like 3 days.

Eventually, realising that I'd fucked up by lying about my age, I took on a second persona, Eli, who was really me, but two years younger than Tyler, and a year younger than me.

So I tried to kill off "Tyler" by faking my death. I saw how worried Andy was, and I couldn't go through with it. I made up more characters, Carly, my physical therapist.

And somewhere in there, was Danielle. Who I made up a whole friendship with. Long story short, she was me, texting me, from a fake number. I don't remember much about that.

And then I faked my death AGAIN, by pretending I came out, got kicked out, and attempted suicide.

I needed an out. The plan was to become just Eli after I'd gotten rid of Tyler.

And there was the binder giveaway somewhere in there. Because of bias, I rigged the raffle. And I actually intended to buy them a binder, but I couldn't get the money (I was using a bunch of free "make money" apps).

Okay, so this is definitely out of order, but I tried my best to get it in chronological order.

I eventually showed Andy what "Tyler" looked like, which was actually just some photo I found on the internet. I couldn't show them what I really look like, since I've already Skyped with them as Eli.

We were going to skype, but I panicked, and that was the night everything came out.

I kept covering the camera with my finger, and pretending it was a glitch, and for some fucked up reason, I found it funny that I was doing that. They heard me laugh, and I played it off as prank.

I didn't know what to do next. I couldn't video chat with them, and I couldn't not do it, because I'd have to come up with an excuse.

I pretended that "Tyler" had sent the photo to "Eli" as well, and "Eli" reverse image searched it, proving that "Tyler" was a catfish.

And then I used one of my Snapchat friend's photos to pretend that she was Eli's real life friend, who had been Tyler all along.

If I remember correctly, that's when I made Jack. I said I was going to ghost Andy, and I did, for like a day, before sending another email saying I wasn't Jack.

Eventually, I explained everything, and somehow, we still talk occasionally, but I know I fucked up something that could have been really good. It was doomed from the beginning, ever since I lied about my age. It was such a small lie at first, and it got bigger from there.

You know those kids cartoons where someone tells a lie and it becomes a web of things? Yeah, in short, that's what happened. I don't even know why I made it so complicated instead of coming clean.

If I could go back in time and change it, I would. But I can't, so the only thing I can do is say sorry and hope that you guys know how much I mean it.

If this is out of order or I'm leaving something out, please let me know, and I'll fix it.

I understand if anyone I'm friends with doesn't want to be friends anymore, and there's one person besides Andy, that if they leak my new username, will probably cost me the new friends I've made. If you want to tell them, go ahead. I deserve that, and they deserve to know.

But I won't explain it to them unless I have to, will I? Right. Because I'm a coward. And that's why I didn't come clean sooner, instead of creating the character of Tyler.

All the messages, Eli and Tyler, were me, being myself, albeit slightly different characters. I'm actually really surprised no one guessed. But that's why it seemed so real. Because for most of it, besides me playing two people, it was.

Now all that's left to do is work up a surge of courage and hit publish.

Then I wait for the shitstorm.