What happened?
What happened to drive
you beyond the security
of you friends' words and
family's love?
What happened to push you to the rock bottom?
What happened to the boy
that was able to write about it
day after day,
who said, "it only gets better"?
What happened?
Was it the ignorance?
Was it the words that were thrown at you
from all directions,
piercing you like daggers
until it reached your very
core?
Was it the people who failed
to take a stand and
stop it;
the crowds of people who just
stood and stared?
Was it the ignorance?
What if I was there?
Would I have been able
to stop you?
Would I have been able to hug you,
reassure you that you weren't alone,
that you would be able to cope with it?
Would you have lived?
But it's too late
to ask questions now.
For those of you who haven't heard, a 14 year old gay boy who was teased and taunted mercilessly committed suicide very recently. Here's a link if you'd like to read more about it, and watch the video he posted earlier this year: http://www.dangerousminds.net/comments/another_heartbreaking_gay_teen_suicide/
Reflecting upon this, I realize this is a tragedy that could've easily prevented, if people took notice and took action. Instead, this boy was left alone to fight off a relentless attack of insults, and eventually felt that life was not worth living. I am ashamed for those who didn't take a stand when they could, for those who let this pass by without notice and those who kept on saying and doing hurtful things. So please, if you ever have the chance to stop bullying of any kind, whether it's about sexual orientation, gender, race, etc. DO IT. Maybe you'll prevent something like this from happening ever again.