Everyone deserves a safe space to process difficult experiences, especially when they’re still learning how to heal.

But one teen quickly realized that not everyone in her circle understood the meaning of privacy or compassion.

Soon, the artwork she created to cope, meant for her eyes only, became the center of a cruel group chat blast.

You’ll want to keep reading for this one.

AITA for blowing up on my friend after she leaked private art I made.

I’m 17, and about two months ago I started therapy for something that happened to me.

Art ended up being the only thing that really helped.

I do digital art, but I’ve never posted it or really saved it anywhere.

But soon, she realized the artwork wasn’t as private as she initially thought.

A week ago, my friend “Lacey” messaged me saying she saw the art on my phone and that it was “harmful” and “disgusting.”

I kinda lost it on her and sent like 15 long messages because I couldn’t believe she said that or maybe even went through my phone.

She left me on read, so I thought that was it.

The reality soon became much worse.

Then a few days later my other friend “Kyle” DM’d me asking what was going on and sent a screenshot of some group chat.

Lacey had sent almost half of my art in there, told them I made it, and there were like 12 people in the chat — some I barely know.

I was terrified because yeah, without context the art looks bad, which is why I kept it private.

I messaged Lacey again, and she said people “deserved to know how gross I am.”

Soon, Lacey’s cruel words began to get in her head.

I know the drawings look weird because of what I went through and how complicated everything feels, but it was the only thing that made me feel a little better, and now I do feel kinda gross.

AITA??

It’s hard not to get upset when someone you considered a friend betrays your trust like this.

What did Reddit think?

One thing is for sure: This teen needs to stay as far away from Lacey as possible.

Lacey definitely doesn’t have this teen’s best interests at heart.

Now’s the time to put some extra security measures on all her devices.

People deserve to process things privately, and in the way that feels the most healing to them.

And if anyone should feel ashamed here, it’s the friend who betrayed her privacy in exchange for a little attention.

Maybe this whole situation was just a painful lesson in who she could actually trust.

If you liked this post, you might want to read this story about a teacher who taught the school’s administration a lesson after they made a sick kid take a final exam.