He smiled and laughed from time to time.

He seemed fine but pain ate him up inside.

He was so quiet but his blue eyes were loud, pleading.

But no one ever listened.

He was someone’s student.

He was someone’s friend.

He was someone’s son.

He was someone’s brother.

He was sixteen when he was gone.

She smiled and she laughed all the time.

She seemed fine but pain ate her up inside.

She heard the whispers in the hall but she was quiet.

Her brown eyes pleaded; her wrists were screaming.

Someone listen!

She is someone’s student.

She is someone’s friend.

She is someone’s daughter.

She is someone’s sister.

Someone listen!

Won’t anyone listen?

Anybody?

Quiet, quiet, quiet…

Then someone listened and she was saved.