I want to start this off with saying, I relate to Billy Hargrove and Max Mayfield in ways most people will never understand. My father was cruel to me and my little sister from a very young age, and he put us against each other time after time. I hated my little sister, because of him. I envied her and I was jealous of her, while also protecting her. He forced us into this toxic relationship, and caused us to have a lot of trauma that I will never heal from. I regret a lot of things and I cannot take back how I reacted to a lot of my abuse. But I was able to grow, and I was able to change. I am still angry, I still lash out, I am not a perfect victim. But me and my sister no longer hate each other, and we are closer than we have ever been.

The Duffer brothers clearly do not know how to write abuse victims, they put them into a box and categorize them based on what they think a perfect victim is. They have put stereotypes into place that are harmful, and have caused me a lot of pain. Seeing Billy basically kill himself and then get sh*t on the last 2 seasons has put me into a spiral of self doubt. It is so hurtful. If they had any of the courage that I had, then Billy would still be alive. I held out hope, that they would do something to show that Billy was just a child. That he was a product of his environment, and given time and love he could’ve grown. He could’ve grown, like how i’ve grown. He could’ve forgiven himself, and Max. He could’ve been a better person, a better brother. But instead they solidified these stereotypes, with yet another abuse victim killing themselves. They have made this narrative that the only way out of the cycle is to die, and that is unforgivable.

I will always love Jane Hopper, I will always love Billy Hargrove. And I hope one day we will get the recognition we deserve. Not all victims are perfect and they don’t have to die to end the cycle of abuse.

Sincerely,