He walks down the crowded hallway
Hundreds of students pushing and shoving their way through the pack
He is stuck in the center of the middle school mosh pit
His greasy hair is disheveled, he keeps his head down
So he is not noticed.
He twiddles his thumbs, counting every step he walks.
48...49...50…
With every step
His breathing gets heavier
The weight of the backpack
Slowly crushing
His body, crushing his body like the sky crushed Atlas.
At last, he arrives in the classroom
His journey through hell finally over
He takes his seat in the far back corner
Away from the cacophony of the other students
Away from their stares, their judgmental minds
He slinks back in his chair,
Opens his book and begins to read
Cherishing every moment
That he can be invisible.