• Red pattern. Red bloody pattern.
    Splattered smile.
    Tilted smerk.
    The voice inside me is controlling me.


    I walked in class.
    She asked someone to read in the textbook.
    Refuse.
    She called on me.
    Refuse.
    "What?"
    Refuse.
    "What?"
    I said I refuse.
    "No, don't say it again. Now read."
    Refuse.
    I sank down into my chair until my chin hit my desk.
    She walked closer to me.
    My fist closed tight. Holding it.
    "Give. Me. It."
    Refuse.
    "GIVE. ME. IT. NOW."
    Refuse.
    The class rotated in their seats.
    All eyes on you. Staring.
    Their eyes crave this.
    "Get up there."
    I walked to the front of the room.
    I held up the knife in front of my face.
    The class and the teacher gasped and cried as I began
    to slit my wrists.
    Red scarlet dripping to the floor.
    "No. I won't read."