Time. It is said, only time will tell. Now, whether this is pertaining to a good or bad occurrence or knowledge depends on the situation and all of its factors. Time is what binds us all together. Time is what can build and destroy a person. Time can give hope and steal it away. It’s an angel in disguise and a wolf in sheep’s clothing all the same. No one knew this better than a young woman of 16, named Scarlette.

Scar was simply a lost soul, in desire of love and care. That’s it. She only ever wanted to be heard, to be seen. By seen, I do not mean “seen” in the literal sense. You see, Scarlette suffered depression and self-harm. She wasn’t a bad person and did not want to be viewed as such; she wanted to be viewed for whom she really was within, beyond the gates of her sadness.

One morning in the halls of her high school, the bells rang with an echo. Still at her locker, seeing to her things and collecting her materials for her next class, a peer by the name of Francine approached her. Scarlette attempted to pay her no mind as this girl was known for causing trouble and being quite the attention-whore. Scar was not looking for trouble. Quite the contrary, she tried to stay as hidden as possible, not wanting anyone of Francine’s sort to pick her out. Unfortunately, that was the day in which all her efforts became in vain.

“Hey you!” Francine called.

Mumbling something inaudible, Scarlette turned on her heels away from the girl, shutting the locker door with a twist of her shoulder. As she began to walk off, Francine approached yet again, this time standing in front of her. Francine wasn’t alone. Several other girls stood behind the antagonistic female, who was snickering, their evil intents painted across their faces. Scarlette was not aware of what was to transpire and did not wish to wait around to find out.

“I have to get to class,” she said in a rather annoyed tone, pushing past them, “please.”

“Oh, no. Not so fast, Scar.” called one of the other girls, the emphasis clearly laying on her unfortunate nickname.

These girls had no idea why this name bothered her so. It haunted her. Every day she was reminded of the fact she was a failure – to everyone, really. Her parents, online-friends – anyone to whom she grew close and yet strayed at the same time. The friends she had online seemed like the only ones that truly cared about her. She grew attached to one in particular named Rebekah. She was like the sister Scarlette never had and always needed. However though Bekah tried her hardest to help and comfort her “sister”, there was only so much she could do from far away. The fact succeeded only in causing Scar to feel alone. The ones that she needed were just beyond her reach and she had no one in real life she could speak to or that would accept her.

Scarlette was snapped back to reality as one of the girls stood in her way and slapped her books onto the tile floor with a loud smack. She stood there, rather stunned. Then after a moment, she decided to reach for her materials but Francine caught her. Francine grabbed Scarlette’s arms and threw her against the lockers. No one else in the hall dared intervene; they just kept their heads low and moved along. Even the teachers were none the wiser of what was happened as they were busy enough getting their classrooms in order.

“What have we here..?” Francine mocked as she pinned Scarlette by her arms to the wall.


Suddenly it seemed one of the other girls, known as “Buffy”, accompanying Francine got an idea. The girl was rather heavy set with dark brown curls that seemed to bounce like individual slinkies as she slithered forward. There was already a rumour going around that little miss Scarlette was a pathetic, emo child and this was way she was so reserved, wearing long sleeves and large jackets the majority of the time. This was something Buffy was dying to uncover. Slowly she slid down Scarlette’s sleeves as she squirmed under Francine’s grasp.

“Oh my God...” was all Buffy could mutter, “you’re hideous.” She finished as she gazed at the defenseless girl’s arm.


Scars and day-old cuts decorated the girl’s arm. To be entirely honest, it was rather repulsing. Tears could be seen streaming down her face as some of the girls stepped back at first with horror then with ironic laughter. “Stop!” Scarlette would shout, but to no avail.

“So you really are as pathetic and worthless as they say,” Francine taunted, releasing Scar from her grasp, “if you really hate yourself THAT much, why don’t you just kill yourself? It might save everyone and even yourself a lot of heartache, don’t you think?”

Another female by the name of Jenna, one that kept quiet for the most part, pushed Francine’s arm as Scarlette ran off, giving her a displeased look, “What?” Francine shot back.

Jenna shook her head at the antagonistic group of girls and left their presence, making her way to class. She hoped she would see Scarlette there and vowed she would tell her how sorry she was, but Scarlette was nowhere to be found. Jenna was worried, but simply said to herself that she would see her later. Perhaps she could find out where the girl lived and tell her then after school? What Jenna didn’t know is what was happening at that very moment.

Scarlette had rushed home. Her parents were away at work, so she wouldn’t be bothered, she knew that much, though her parents never really paid her any mind to begin with. Crying her way up the stairs, she finally made it to her bedroom, where she quietly shut the door. The other girls were right. Scar had thought of taking her own life in the past, but always found a way to keep holding on. This time, there was nothing. Deciding on the fact, she pulled out her phone and called Rebekah one last time. I’m sorry, she had said on the voice message, explaining that she was planning to commit suicide, I love you; Goodbye. After which, she hung up, and sat on her bed, knife clenched in hand as she opened her skin for the last time.

There, on that very day, Scarlette expired. Jenna had found the lifeless girl in her room and despite her efforts and 911 calls, they were to no avail. She was gone.

Scarlette only ever desired to be loved, to be understood. Quite frankly, she just wanted the world to see her for once and to not leave her on the backburner. She was a broken girl with nothing to hold on to. Yes, she had parents and a friend she could call a sister, but in the end, none of that added up. She was a sad and depressed soul, lost in the dark recesses of her own mind.

Time. It is said, only time will tell. Time can build a soul and break it down. It can give hope and mend a heart. However it can steal that very hope away, shattering you to pieces all the same. For Scarlette, she simply wanted someone to know who she was. Keep breathing, she kept whispering to herself until time made her grow weary and she could long hold on, nevermore.