I Served A Woman Who Scoffed at Me All through High School & Finally Took My Revenge after 20 Years

I hadn’t seen Karen for decades. She was the one who severely mocked me for my lisping and stuttering all through school years. Her taunts had made my teenage years a living hell. She and her clique had always laughed at my every word, turning my speech impediment into a relentless source of humiliation. But I’d grown, learned to manage my stutter, and moved on—or so I thought.

There I was, waiting tables at a high-end restaurant where I’d worked for the past ten years. It was a busy Friday night, and I was in my groove, seamlessly juggling orders and managing tables. As I approached a new table, my heart skipped a beat. Sitting there was Karen, laughing with a man who appeared to be her husband. She hadn’t changed much, still radiating the same aura of arrogance and self-importance.

“May I take your order?” I asked, my voice steady but my heart racing.

Her eyes widened in recognition. “Lily?! Wow! You work here?” Her tone dripped with condescension. I could see the disdain in her eyes, as if waiting tables was the most pathetic job she could imagine.

“Evidently, yes,” I replied, forcing a polite smile.

She smirked, looking me up and down. “Oh, boy, after all these years, I still CAN’T understand a word you’re saying. Get me your manager!”

The old wounds stung, but I remained composed. “Certainly, one moment,” I said, and walked away to fetch my manager. But then, a brilliant idea struck me. It was high time to do JUSTICE.

I found my manager, a kind and supportive woman named Sarah, and explained the situation. Sarah had always been aware of my past struggles and knew about my history with bullying. She agreed to let me handle it, her eyes gleaming with anticipation.

I returned to Karen’s table with Sarah following behind. “Here’s my manager,” I said.

Karen’s eyes widened as she looked at Sarah. “Is there a problem, ma’am?” Sarah asked, her tone professional yet stern.

“Yes, I—” Karen began, but I interrupted her.

“Actually, Sarah, before we proceed, may I share something?” I asked, and she nodded. “Karen and I went to high school together. She used to mock me relentlessly for my lisp and stutter. It made my school years incredibly difficult.”

Karen’s face paled, and she opened her mouth to protest, but I continued. “I’ve worked hard to overcome those challenges and build a life I’m proud of. This job has given me the opportunity to grow and improve myself. It’s ironic, isn’t it, that she’s here, demanding to see my manager because she still finds pleasure in belittling others?”

The restaurant had gone quiet, and all eyes were on us. Karen’s husband looked embarrassed, his gaze darting between us.

Sarah turned to Karen, her expression icy. “Ma’am, we don’t tolerate disrespect towards our staff. Lily is one of our best employees, and we’re proud to have her. If you can’t treat her with the respect she deserves, I’ll have to ask you to leave.”

Karen’s jaw dropped, and for once, she was at a loss for words. She stammered, trying to salvage her dignity, but her husband interjected.

“We’ll leave,” he said, standing up and pulling Karen with him. “I’m sorry for any trouble caused.”

As they walked out, Karen shot me a final look of disbelief. I watched them go, feeling a mixture of triumph and relief. The girl who had been tormented by her was no longer a victim. I had found my voice and stood up for myself in the most public way possible.

The rest of the evening went smoothly, with supportive comments from customers and colleagues alike. I had finally taken my revenge, not through malice, but by showing that I had risen above her cruelty and found strength in my journey.

Years of pain had culminated in that moment of justice. I had faced my past and emerged victorious, proving to myself and to Karen that I was no longer the girl she could push around. I was stronger, wiser, and unbreakable.