Trapped.
Sitting on the cold tile floor,
alone.
Endless thoughts
running through my head.

The sound of distant footsteps
and the hum of the vents
fill the room.
But other than that,
Silence.

The cool air from outside
hits my body.
It calms my nerves
and cools me down.
I can finally breathe.
My head continues
to pound.
My body continues
to shake.
I tell myself to relax.

Light from outside
fills the room.
People outside
drive by.
Oblivious.

They don’t know.
They don’t understand.
The things that
happen around
this school.

The fear.
The pressure.
The stress.
In every class.
Through every hallway.

They’ll tell you,
“It gets better.”
It doesn’t.
And it won’t.
I’m numb to it all.

Go to your classes,
do work and leave.
That’s how you
survive in this
prison.