Natalie, I’m sorry you’re having to deal with all that. But obviously you are a very strong person for being able to and not just giving up.
Your ex-biology teacher is a douche and so is your ex-"friend’. Anyone could die at any moment. It’s the cost of living. What a copout excuse for basically saying "I’m too self-centered to want to have to consider supporting you in anything that might be remotely difficult because that would take away from me." Douchebags, the lot of them. You’re much better off without either of them in your life.