The dance is in an hour.

It’s been days since you’ve talked to Aiden,

And now you’re debating whether to go.

What he said,

Was completely,

Out,

Of,

Line.

But what was even stranger,

Were the scars,

Wounds,

And cuts,

On,

His,

Arms.

Did he do that himself?

How,

Could he do that?

Why,

Would he hurt himself?

What,

Are his reasons?

You desperately want to help him,

Get better.

Stop him,

From making things worse.

Save him,

From himself.

But he hasn’t sat with you at lunch,

Said hi to you in the hallway,

Or talked to you in the Library.

Fact:

You haven’t seen him,

Fiction:

You’ve accepted he’s avoiding you.

Fact:

It’s because you know his secret.

Fiction:

You would tell everyone.

Fact:

His friendship means a lot to you.

Fiction:

You will let it escape because of what happened.

Fact:

You know he will be at the dance.

Fiction:

You don’t plan on going.

You dig in your closet,

Desperately looking for something to wear.

A skirt,

Wasn’t formal enough.

A shiny blue dress,

Made you look fat.

A tiny black dress,

Made you look skinny.

The dance has already started.

So you hurry,

Because you want to see Aiden.

You rush,

Because you want to tell him you won’t tell.

You curl your hair,

Apply your makeup,

And slide on your dress.

You can’t help feet pretty in it,

But you still know you’re not pretty enough.

You ask your mom to drive you to the dance,

And as she drives you,

Her worried glances tell you everything.

She knows,

You’re not eating.

She knows,

You’re trying to lose weight.

She knows,

You throw up your dinner.

She knows,

Not to bring it up now.

You run into the school gym,

And pay for your overpriced dance ticket.

When you look around you,

You gasp.

The once smelly,

Dirty,

Appalling gym,

Was turned into a gorgeous,

Magnificent,

Winter wonderland.

Fake,

Sparkly snow covers the ground.

Paintings done by the art club were hung across the walls.

Snowflakes hung from the ceiling,

And everything sparkled.

Once you're done being amazed,

You look for something else magnificent.

Or rather,

Someone.

But when you see him,

Your heart sinks.
He's dancing with Sarah,

And he looks like he doesn't hate her at all.