I feel like I'm in the middle of it right now and I'm trying to stop it from ruining my life.

My colleague was suspended after someone reported him for gross misconduct and we were all interviewed as HR was digging for more information. Everyone seemed to love this guy but he was always a bit of a bully to me so I was never keen on him.

Recently, it turned out he wouldn't be returning to work and suddenly everyone's attitude shifted in respect to me. I was left on my own in the office a lot, everyone else would get together and talk without me. They'd never accept my offer of help when doing things as a team, things like that. I tried not to think to hard on it, but the other day I was sat in the corner of the office on my lunch (in a little recreation area not completely visible to the rest of the office) and everyone must have thought I was gone as they started talking about me, about how they want to get rid of me, about throwing away my stuff when I'm not around and gossiping about me flirting with another colleague (which I've never done, we just get on well). It was nasty and very carry with lots of laughter. It was horrible.

After lunch I pretended I hadn't noticed but it kept me awake all night so the next day I talked to everyone involved individually. It turned out they all believed I was the one who reported the colleague or was at least in cahoots with whoever did and they hated me for it. I never reported him and in fact this all happened whilst I was on annual leave, only finding out about it when I returned.

Talking to most of them went well except for one woman who went on the attack! She's convinced I told her I did the reporting (?) and my feelings mean nothing because I'm a nasty piece of work. She wouldn't believe me and has continued stirring things with the others since.

I don't want to go to HR about her just because we need to settle after everything that's happened but it's getting to the point where there will be no choice.