Who's Daniel?

My head snapped up to look at Virginia.

My pen snapped in half

as my grip hardened

and my heart raced.

How'd you find me?

I asked

currently sitting in the corner

of the school library.

It was lunchtime now.

Nearly no one came to the library at this time.

Virginia just sat down in front of me.

I saw you when I was walking to my locker.

She said,

and I couldn't help but mentally roll my eyes.

As if.

I was in absolute solitary.

No one could've found me.

So, about last night.

Virginia continued.

When they were talking about Daniel...

She paused

and her gaze pierced through mine.

Who is he?

And it took all of me

to not let thoughts of him

shatter me.

Daniel died six years ago.

Virginia seemed to freeze

as sympathy filled her eyes.

I'm sor-

I cut her off.

I never really knew him.

She clamped her mouth shut.

He never really knew me either.

We were both alone in our own little worlds, I guess.

I laughed humorlessly.

I never even introduced myself to him.

My eyes glazed over

as I smeared the spilt ink over my skin.

I should've though.

I should've done something.

I should've been there for him,

to show him that he wasn't alone.

Silence consumed us for a few moments

before I took in a sharp,

deep breath.

He killed himself.

He jumped off of his roof,

because he was a lost boy

and didn't know how to save himself.

Tears glistened in Virginia's eyes.

It was then that I noticed the warm

salty tears streaming down my face.

He was gay, you know?

Virginia breathed out a gust of air.

But our town couldn't accept that.

They will never accept that.

And as the words left my mouth,

sadness clouded over the both of us.

I'm sorry.

I'm so so sorry.

I said

gathering up my textbooks and papers.

I've got to go.

And without another word,

I was gone.

~Sarah