Back in high school I had a friend group that I would go out and drive around and smoke pot with during breaks--it was the 70s. One cruel member of this group always wanted to make fun of me. Always me. I tried to blow it off and shrug it off and come back (but I'm not great at comebacks) until finally I just said no. I'm not going with you anymore. Two of the three friends didn't care. The one who did, she came around to my house and told me she missed me. We found ways to hang out without the cruel guy. And we are still friends today. The toxic ones? The assholes? Cut them loose. You are a vital resource that musn't be squandered or undervalued. You are a precious gem.