I'm getting a zero

because I didn't do my homework?

Oh, and that zero

is going to bring my grade

down three points?

Okay. Yeah, it's my fault

for not turning it in.

I'm sorry.

 

I know you won't accept

                                                   excuses

in place of the assignment,

but what

                                                   would

you do if I told you

why I didn't

                                                   do

it? Would you shrug

and say there's

                                                   nothing

you can do?

That it's a zero

anyway?

 

What if I were to tell

you that I didn't

do my homework,

because it took all my energy,

all my strength

not to unlock

my safe box

and extract

my razor blade

from its dark

hiding spot?

 

What if I were to tell

you that I didn't

do my homework,

because it took all my willpower

to sit still

in my empty

house without reaching

for the scissors

on the table next to me?

 

What if I said

I spent my time

restraining

my

hand

from

pulling

the sharpest object

I could find

through my skin

over and over and over again,

until the blood

poured in rivers,

filling my eyes,

and cleaning

me out?

 

Would the homework

be important to

                                                   you

anymore?

I can

                                                   never

                                                   ask

you this,

                                                   for

you don't take

                                                   excuses

in place of

the assignment.

You couldn't.