• Look at me. Don't turn away.
    I know you can hear.
    I don't want to hear one excuse -
    I hope my point is clear.

    Don't you deny - I speak the truth,
    And for all you know,
    I'm just as miserable as you,
    Just putting on a show.

    How dense are you? Can you not see
    The turmoil in my eyes?
    Take off your mask; remove your smile.
    Cease all your spoken lies.

    You're not the only one, you see,
    Who cries themselves to sleep.
    You're not the only lonely wreck.
    You think your cuts are deep?

    No more self-pity. Look around.
    What the hell do you see?
    All crying faces, hid by masks,
    Longing to be set free.

    Stephanie; she laughs a lot,
    Her grades desired by all.
    She makes one flaw and gets punished -
    Mom loves to see her fall.

    Drew Johnson, the hyper one -
    He'd never get mad.
    Six years old; forcefully raped
    By his loving dad.

    Kenzie, the generous one,
    Can't afford to buy presents.
    You see, she's too poor to buy food;
    Still she remains kind; pleasant.

    John Olson lost his mother
    To a cruel illness.
    At school he smiles and laughs.
    At home, now, it's just stillness.

    Not just these kids, but everyone
    Understands how you feel.
    Don't you get it? This is life.
    This "soap opera" is real.

    I want to make you comprehend.
    I want to make you smile.
    Even though, now, I'm your friend -
    I'll be gone in a while.

    Life is short. Don't end it now.
    You don't know what's ahead.
    I love you; I understand.
    You're living. You're not dead.

    You're not alone. You're not okay.
    And you may think it's strange,
    But there are people just like you.
    Together, we can change.