Today just like any other day

walking through the halls
sitting within the walls 
supposed to keep you safe
supposed to block the world out
but all they do is keep the world in

The world of
misunderstanding
loneliness
and pain

You go through the day
there is an empty chair
that catches your eye
you immediately think they’re okay
just at home sick
nothing’s wrong
let’s just go on with the day

You come back again
not thinking of that empty chair
then you get the news
your world comes crashing down
the walls supposed to keep you safe
come creeping in without a sound

Your mind goes through all these things
Who
     When
            How
                 What if
What if there was something
you could have done
what if you had one chance
to tell them what they meant
how they made you feel

As you go through your day
wondering what to do
what to say
suddenly the empty chair
isn’t just an empty chair
it’s a life that could have been
the promises that will never be fulfilled

You think to yourself
who’s next
who will be the next one to fall
to the hands of the monster
so many people have succumbed to

You take who you have
and you hold them close
never wanting to let them go
never wanting any of them
to become that empty chair

Just an empty chair

Your world stops
but everyone else keeps going
you want to scream and shout

Here
here was this person
this amazing being
that didn’t even know
that didn’t even see
all the people they had

They’re not
just another empty chair
to pass by without a glance
or to stack against the wall

Don’t go through your life
thinking it won’t ever happen to you
until it does
the empty chairs affect us all

No one should feel like their chair
is better off left empty
everyone’s chair in life matters

Don’t be afraid to go sit
with someone else
it might be what saves them
from becoming
another empty chair