we sit here all day, writing in vain
with our torn books across the table,
we hope and we pray

they say that high school
is the “best time of our lives”
but how can we reply
if to them the best years
are the ones that we
barely survive?

we are told to wait
“it get’s better someday”
but they don't understand
because to them
it was all in vain

we cry and we pray
for some things we know won’t change
we know we shouldn't bully
we have laws for that and all
but to the bullies who have always been there
will a law really change them
at all?

we sit here all day with our statistics and say
For every suicide among us
there’s at least 100 attempts each day

over 14 percent of students have considered suicide
but to us that’s nothing until one of us will try

over 20 percent of students are diagnosed with depression
but we remain ignorant and oblivious to their hateful perception

we sit here all day with our friends and their laughter
oblivious to the kids who struggle to get through the day even faster

our lives never truly change
until one of us
is torn into two
with the vicious words
of i hate you’s

we sit and we chatter
and go on our phones
when right in front of us
is a person we've never known
they might be unhappy
and horribly glum
but we’ll never know
until we have tried
to make them
feel better

there is always something worth saving
will you give it a shot
make that person one less statistic
and open up your heart

here’s one more statistic
for the ones who don’t know
suicide is the third leading cause of death
at least thats all we know

we try not to believe it
“is it really true?”

for the percent of us who don’t understand
i hope this bring some light

depression period
miserable period
dejected period
downhearted period
downcast period
low period
weeping period

NOT

animated period
cheerful period
happy period
joyous period
flourishing period

depression is like a monster
it climbs through your body
restricting its movements
making you remember every. bad. thing.
and saying to yourself
“Im not … worth it”

we sit and we pray
that the depression won’t
take us away

we understand it’s torture
and the pain we will face 
but we still sit here
and take this pain
like we think
we’re supposed to do

we sit here all day
writing in vain
our letters of triumph
we will never regain

our body is not meant
for this terrifying illness
that we shouldn't have to face
even if it wishes

it doesn't understand
the way my mind works
without its collective
need for this oppression

i sit here all day
never writing in vain
trying to deal
with something I cannot face

“she hears voices” she says
breathing down her neck
a ghostly whisper
and then…
she lets out a blood curdling scream

she doesn’t understand
why her class mates torture her
why her teachers let it happen
why the principal won’t listen
why are these laws even made
if
she doesn't understand
why she cant get out of bed
this morning
why her energy is sapped
why the voices of her classmates
still echo in her mind
why?
she thought she left them behind

“go die” they say
“you’re not worth it” they say
“everyone hates you” they say

“she hates them.” she says
“she can't get rid of them.” she says
“WHY CANT YOU LEAVE ME ALONE!” she says
and then …
is its over?

this young girl at the age of 18
has taken her life
and we couldn't even see

“she was crazy.” they say
“she didn't understand.” they say
“we never bullied her.” they say

“but then why is she gone?” we say

[the little note she gave us
before she went away
did not bring us relief
or knowledge, instead
it brought us torture
and fear.]

another statistic to add
to the book of overwhelming sadness
we didn't understand her reason for pain
or why it was even there in the first place
but they shouldn't have bullied
even if they say
“but its all fun and games”

to them a game meant to bring pain
but to her a game meant to bring freedom
her freedom ended before she even hit
her majority.

why should your decisions cost someone
their life