See him there? The funny popular guy who always has a clever joke to tell? He secretly wants to die. He looks popular, but all his 'friends' use him as the butt of their joke. He's so cynical and pessimistic, but he wears it on his sleeve like a big joke and nobody gets the punchline.
See her there? Sitting, talking, laughing with all her friends? All her 'friends' are walking back to class and calling her a tramp and worthless. They act like they care because they like to have somebody to fall back on, who's always there even with all the crap they give her.
See that girl? She smiles every day, and says hi to everyone. People murmur a hello back and she smiles even wider. That smile? Never crosses her lips when she leaves school. She sits at home sobbing and cuts all the pain away. But, no one would know. After all, who would ask the matter of someone who is always happy?
See that boy, the guy sitting by himself at that table? His girlfriend just died. He tries to keep the pain hidden, because even if he cried, no one cares about him. He's nice and sweet and a funny guy, but no one would know that. Sometimes he has a temper, but he nevers uses it for violence. A tear rolls down his solemn face and a group of jocks laugh. "Pu$$y!" He visits her grave every day and brings her flowers. But, no one would know.
See that teacher? He is only sober at school. The bullying, the disrespect, the arrogance, all that these kids throw at him, he bottles up inside and drinks to take the pain away. He comes home upset every day because of the bull he endures. His wife left him because his mood was always bad, and even though he would explain, she would say, "Kids will be kids." That's when he started to drink.
See me? I have to watch all this. I try to ease the pain of those I see that are suffering, but there is so much hurt. This world, all these people, what's the point.
All these little people. I live to make sure that funny guy lives to tell another joke, I make sure to tell that amiable girl that she is amazing, I always ask how the happy girl how she is doing, I sat by that boy and gave him a ride to the cemetary and held his flowers as he cried, I bring a can of coffee to that teacher and talk to him about everything, anything but pain.
My job? My goal? My fight? To be those people's hero. Not because I saved a city, or rescued a baby, or raised a litter of kittens thrown in the river, but because I care.
calimarie