The office bully

 Sarah sat at her desk, her hands trembling slightly as she typed the last few words of her email. She’d been in the workplace for just under six months, but it felt like years. Every day, she walked the same tightrope between trying to blend in and keeping her head down.

Her job was demanding, but it was the environment that wore her down. Brandon, a colleague who had been with the company for years, always seemed to find ways to undermine her. It wasn’t the overt insults or physical bullying that made Sarah's heart race; it was the subtle, passive-aggressive comments he made in meetings, the mocking tone he used when she spoke up, the way he rolled his eyes whenever she suggested an idea.

Yesterday, it had been the “is a joke” comment after he made a sarcastic remark about her presentation skills. “Hard luck, Sarah, but I think my dog could do a better job presenting,” he had said with a smirk. The whole room had laughed, but Sarah had felt her face burn with embarrassment. She couldn’t shake the feeling that everyone was silently agreeing with him.

At lunch that day, Sarah had sat alone at her desk, pretending to focus on work. She thought about saying something, confronting him, but the fear of making things worse kept her quiet. What if she was wrong? What if it was just a joke, and she was overreacting? She tried to shake off the feelings, but they lingered — making it hard to concentrate.

Brandon, on the other hand, sat in the break room with his usual crowd, laughing and joking as if nothing mattered. But there was a weight to his laughter that Sarah couldn’t ignore. Brandon wasn’t the person everyone thought he was. He’d been at the company longer than anyone, but even those who didn’t know him well could sense the cracks in his persona. Both his confidence and his ignorance was always on the surface, and Sarah had picked up on moments when his eyes seemed distant, his smiles forced to hide his frustration with himself.

One day, after a particularly tense meeting, Sarah found herself alone in the copy room, waiting for a set of printouts. Brandon entered, his usual smirk in place, but something about his posture was different. He didn’t look like the confident, untouchable person everyone knew. He seemed... tired.

“Hey, Sarah,” he said, his voice not as sharp as usual.

She looked up, unsure of what to expect. “Hi.”

“I—uh—I owe you an apology,” he said, pausing for a moment. Sarah’s heart skipped. This was the last thing she expected.

“I’ve been... messing with you, and I realize it’s been more than just jokes. I don’t know why I’ve been acting like that,” Brandon continued, rubbing the back of his neck. “I guess I was projecting... stuff. Stuff I’m not really proud of. But I find it hard to resist the attention of the audience.” He sighed dejectedly, “I dealing with some things at home, and... I don’t know nah, I thought putting you down would make me feel better, but it hasn’t. It just made things worse.”

Sarah blinked, trying to process his words. She had never expected an apology from Brandon, let alone one that was this genuine. She was so used to being the victim of his comments that the idea of him actually seeing her as more than a target felt... strange.

“I’m sorry, Sarah,” Brandon said again, his voice quieter now. “I never meant to hurt you.”

For a long moment, Sarah said nothing. She wasn’t sure what to feel. She had spent so much time avoiding confrontation, allowing his behavior to slide, that she didn’t know how to respond. Finally, she spoke.

“Thank you, Brandon,” she said, her voice steady despite the surprise in her chest. “That means a lot to me.”

Brandon nodded, his eyes meeting hers for the first time with sincerity. "I know it's not enough, but I want to do better. I don't want to be that guy."

Sarah smiled, a small but genuine smile, as she left the room. She didn’t have all the answers, but for the first time in months, she felt a weight lift from her shoulders.

Brandon’s words didn’t erase the past, but they opened a door. Healing wasn’t just for the victim — it was for both of them. It was a reminder that everyone, even the person who hurts others, carries their own struggles. And sometimes, the only way to break the cycle of pain is through understanding, forgiveness, and the willingness to change. The workplace felt a little less heavy the next day. And for Sarah, it was the beginning of finding the courage to not only stand up for herself but to see the humanity in others — no matter how broken they might seem.