When the light starts to fade

and it goes pitch dark.

You’re filled with hate

and you have no way out.

Alone, in this universe

where no one cares

about your existence

and you feel scared.

But don’t forget,

there’s always someone

who will give you light

and lift you from your sorrows.

You don’t have to hide your feelings anymore...

You are a strong person

to have held all the pain,

doing your best to

brighten up someone’s day.

You have put others’ needs

before you,

forgetting that

you deserve love too.

Now it is time

to return the deed

I’ll be your listening ear

when you’re in need.

If you feel insecure,

this will be the last.

No need to back out anymore,

you don’t have to be an eccedentesiast.

Don’t be afraid,

there’s nothing to hide

No one will judge you

you are just fine.

You don’t have to

pretend anymore.

Take down those walls,

and connect with the people

who deeply love you.

To whoever’s reading this,

Go on now, and treat yourself

to a cup of hot cocoa,

and a good book

because you deserve it.

A virtual hug from me to you

Love yourself, because I do too :)

It was a beautiful day to be walking home along a tree-lined road. Carlos hastily checked his watch; darkness was already falling, Soon, the only light will come from street lamps. Apart from Carlos, the road is empty … or so he thinks. Suddenly, he hears a strange, shrill voice coming from the darkness behind the trees.

Carlos froze. The hairs behind his neck stood up as he turned towards the source of the shrill voice. It came from behind the trees.

“Is anybody there…?” he asked into the void of the forest.

“Hello…”

There it was again. The echo of the voice rang like a siren in his ears. The cold voice seemed to beckon him, as if it was a hypnotising spell. Carlos quickened his pace, nervously trodding through the damp grass.

Squish, squish.

He could feel his heart thumping like a bird trying to escape its cage. Taking short quick breaths, Carlos silently dashed along the road.

“Hi there, have you come to play with me?” whispered the voice, now closer. In fact, Carlos thought he had felt someone breathing down his neck...

He took a deep breath, and turned around slowly, only to face… a little girl! Heaving a sigh of relief, Carlos examined the figure. She wore a red bow on her head, and seemed to be snuggling under her cyan jacket while staring up at him. He was baffled; what was a little girl doing alone on the road at dusk?

“Hello there, where are your parents?” questioned Carlos, ” And how did you get here?”

The little girl frowned. “Answer my question first!” she grumbled.

Carlos sighed. He promised the girl he would play with her after she told him where her parents were. ‘Such inconsiderate parents’, he thought, ‘leaving their kid wandering around the streets at night’. The girl introduced herself as Mia. She explained that she went for a picnic with her parents, and got lost when she went to play in the woods. Carlos felt a pang of sympathy for the girl and decided to walk her home. Maybe his mother would know what to do.

Mia and Carlos strolled along the dark road, with only the street lamps and stars to lead them. The cheerful chatter could be heard between the two, as Carlos chatted and told jokes to brighten the little girl’s spirits. Mia looked into his eyes while giggling softly. However, he noticed that the sparkle in her eyes looked so faded and lost despite her young age. It was almost as if the flaming spirit inside of her had been extinguished.

“Look, we’re here!” exclaimed Carlos, shrugging off his thoughts.

They had just arrived at his house, and his mother was walking to and fro at the entrance, clearly anxious. Mia smiled and thanked him for all his help, as he ushered her into the house.

“Carlos, there you are! I was worried sick, what took you so long?” scolded his mother, running to embrace him in a tight hug.

“I’m sorry mom,” apologised Carlos, “ I was walking home when I found this lost girl. Her name is Mia, and I was wondering if you could call the police station to help find her parents.” he explained, nudging Mia to greet his mother.

“Hello ma’am,” mumbled Mia, staying behind Carlos.

Carlos’ mother looked at him with a raised eyebrow, “Carlos, that’s funny, but you don’t need to make up a silly excuse for being late.”

Carlos was baffled, “What do you mean, mother? I found her alone in the woods, I couldn’t just leave her there” Carlos.

Now his mother was clearly irritated, “Carlos, don’t test me. Do you take me for a fool?”

Carlos was puzzled. He turned to Mia and pushed her forward. He told his mother to let Mia explain what happened, but instead his mother backed away. Mia giggled, much to his surprise.

“Play with me,”she abruptlu said cheerily.

“Stop it, Carlos,” his mother warned, “I know this is another one of your pranks, and you can stop now,” she stammered.

“She said she was lost mom, you of all people know I wouldn’t randomly bring strangers into the house!” argued Carlos, insulted that his mother would think he did such a thing.

“Play with me,” hissed Mia, now with a hint of anger.

His mother’s face turned pale. She whisked out her phone and snapped a picture of Carlos and Mia. Baffled, Carlos opened his mouth to ask a question, when his mother showed the photo to him. Carlos felt his blood run cold. He was unable to believe his eyes, and even rubbed them before glancing again at the picture.

“PLAY WITH ME!!!” shrieked Mia.

The picture showed a furious Carlos, but Mia did not show up in the photo. Speechless, he turned around and pointed while saying, “But she’s right over-”

There was no one there.

Suddenly, Carlos heard the same shrill voice in his ear, and shuddered as it coldly whispered, “You didn’t keep your promise…”

Smiling, helping everyone

Sulking, no homework done

Always cheerful, and seen hanging out

Insecure and really lonely at heart

Laughing and joking along

Crying when she’s home alone

Being there for people

when they’re feeling down

Screaming into the void

when she really needs someone.

. . .

“Do you need someone to talk to?”

“Please save me, I feel hopeless.”

“Don’t worry, it’ll get better!”

“Why am I so useless?”

“Love yourself!”

“I hate myself...”

“I’ll be here for you”

“Don’t I need someone too?”

. . .

Split personalities,

one contrasting the other.

Masking herself,

While inside, she suffers.

Regretting the past,

She puts up walls.

Dwelling on mistakes, but alas,

When will she move on?

There are wounds that never

show on the body that are

Deeper and more hurtful than

anything that bleeds.

These wounds are memories.

While they can warm you

up on the inside,

they can also

tear you apart...

Sometimes when I say

“I’m okay,”

I just want someone

to look me in the eyes,

hug me tight, and say

“I know you’re not”.

.

.

.

To the friend I never had...

We will always have

this mutual understanding.

I’ll almost always know

when you felt like crying.

I’m here to support you

even at the worst of times.

We’ll go through this together

It’ll all end out fine.

This indescribable feeling

It’s not love, it’s better.

We can’t progress

without each other.

Fun memories, good times

Laughing away happily;

These warm me up inside

We’re closer than family.

In the dark times,

My hope, faded.

You’d give me a smile;

a happy atmosphere

will be created.

Each of us

compliments the other

we’ll always be seen

chatting together.

.

.

.

.

.

I hope we meet soon

someday, somewhere, somehow

in the near future.

(Because a good friend is all I need right now...)

Once there was a little bud

sprouting out of the ground.

Fresh, and new.

to this beautiful world.

Soon, it reveals itself

into a glorious rose.

Every petal splashed

with deep crimson glows.

Even with her beauty,

The rose still feels lonely.

With no one but the grass

to dance along with the wind.

Suddenly, a guest arrives;

a busy bumble bee!

He greets the rose with joy

and proceeds to make honey.

The rose is estatic.

Every day, she eagerly awaits

for the arrival of the bees,

with hummingbirds and butterflies

whom she passes time with.

What a wonderful life,

with good friends

and the best views of the world,

the rose thought.

But one day, it all changed.

No bees came to visit her.

She was confused...

didn't they enjoy the pleasure?

Day after day,

no one arrived.

She called out to the wind

And started to cry.

The rose feels weaker now.

Her petals are losing colour

Now a pale red

She's under the weather.

All she could do was wait...

wait...

wait...

Her petals are wilting

It's almost the end.

She lets out a tear

Soon, she'll be dying.

Suddenly, a familiar voice

echoed in the silence.

She looked up and saw

Her old comrade.

"Hush now rose, don't cry,"

says the bumblebee.

"Look around you,

you've created many new lives."

The rose looks around

and she sees an amazing sight;

many small buds

popping into sight.

The rose thanks the bee

with one last smile

and heaves her final breath...

A few weeks later,

the field is painted

with hundreds of pretty roses

swaying in the wind.

And when the bees arrive

along with the hummingbirds

and butterflies,

they remember the rose

that started it all.

' New beginnings are often disguised as painful endings.'

– Lao Tzu

(*You called for help...)

Please,

take me in your arms

and tell me everything’s

going to be okay.

Please tell me

the storm will die down

and there will be clear skies again.

Please don’t leave me

to deal with my inner demons

and break myself.

Please, I need you...

.

.

.

The pain numbs

Tears cascade down

This isn’t what I need right now.

I may seem strong

But my insides

are a mess.

I could crumble

at the slightest touch.

I just need someone

to hold onto,

to be there for me

at my darkest hour.

Someone I can trust

and care about deeply.

Someone to comfort me,

and make me laugh

the pain away.

I just want reassurance

That things will get better.

That whatever happens,

we will stay strong together.

But you go on with life,

Leaving me behind,

forgotten together with the

burned a

s

h

e

s

of our past.

(*...but nobody came)

*TRIGGER WARNING*

It’s ironic how overrated depression is.

That the people who actually have it are tossed aside.

Like useless garbage.

We just want freedom.

We just want happiness.

We just want acceptance.

.

.

.

I have been unable to stop it.

The feelings just pour in

I think I’m drowning.

I’m tired of pretending

I can’t smile anymore.

The mask isn’t working

I can’t feel anymore.

Every day, I cry myself to sleep.

Dreading the pain of tomorrow.

It’s funny, how people say

“your life is perfect,

learn to appreciate”

But they’ve only skimmed

the water’s surface.

My family is unaware.

Of the pain I’m going through.

They think I’m happy

Because smiling is what I always do.

You think it’s a phase?

No, it’s not.

It’s like having poison

injected into your heart.

You helpessly wait

for the poison to spread

Until you can’t take it

And die on your own bed.

I’d rather be stabbed

and have it all end fast.

It’s better than the sadness

Slowly eating away my heart.

I’m ugly, I’m fat

I’m weird and weak

I’m useless, I’m bad

I’m sensitive and meek.

The self- hate has grown.

I don’t like myself anymore...

.

.

.

The blade speaks now.

I start cutting myself.

The feeling of hate

Expressed through every slash.

Blood trickles.

The wounds burn.

But I don’t care anymore.

After all, don’t I deserve it?

Alone, and invisible

I will live the last of my life

until the sadness envelops me

and I decide to die...

Depression is a prison where you are both the suffering prisoner and the cruel jailer.

- Dorothy Rowe

Remember the time we met,

when we were only seven?

We were so innocent back then

I had no idea what was coming.

I remember all the good times

Sharing secrets, playing and joking.

I thought you were so kind.

But now you’re the reason I’m crying.

Why did you have to change?

Did you really have to?

Why couldn’t it stay the same?

Now it’s like I barely know you.

When did you stop being happy?

Now all I see is depression.

I don’t know if you still trust me

I really can’t take the tension.

I can’t let go, not yet.

Was I really such a bad friend?

You’re putting my trust to the test.

I don’t understand why you feel mad.

I’m trying my best to help

But you say I’m making it worse.

I didn’t know how you felt

Now the sadness feels just like a curse.

You’re acting really different.

And it’s dragging me down too.

Now my life is in ruins

Why did I ever trust you?

I treated you like a sister.

And when I turned around

I got stabbed in the back.

I still feel so bitter.

When will you drop this act?

I guess life’s like a train.

At times, people step in with you.

That’s when you could be friends.

Until they step off at their own station.

I guess it’s time to move on...

Goodbye, friend...

Not all scars

are visible.

Some are veiled

behind the facade

called life.

Some heal

on the surface,

but bleed

at the slightest scratch.

And some are so deep

that they make you wish

you were dead,

every. single. day.

They make you insecure

and your self- hate grows

until the grief envelops you

and you don't want

to live anymore.

But no matter how much

pain you go through,

These scars are also the reason

you are alive.

Thriving, fighting, smiling

despite all.