(S)he became sad

The type of sadness that causes you to arise

at three am with tears rushing down their face.

(S)he became a product of the system

because society doesn’t care

society doesn’t care if they’re struggling

because someone always has it worse

society doesn’t care if they’re running on two hours of sleep and a gallon of coffee

because as long as the grades are up,

as long as they’re the best,

the greatest

the prettiest

the strongest

Society will accept them

and society will continue to ignore the sinking hopelessness being felt.

and when that kid

the valedictorian

the teacher’s pet

the smartest kid you know,

when that kid is found hanging in their bedroom,

dead from the hateful words and pressures brought by society

society will pretend to mourn,

a week of anti suicide posters and messages will litter the halls

feeds online flood with remembrance

And then,

nothing.

so society will continue to pressure

to judge

to hate

to sadden

Until it happens again

and again

and again.

-because in the end, we’re taught that success is greater than life itself