Hair in a low bun, 

dressy shirt on, 

new backpack on my shoulders. 

The girl from yesterday is gone. 

The girl from yesterday cried in public. 

The girl from yesterday let the bullies get away. 

The girl from yesterday let her depression 

catch up with her. 

But then tomorrow came. 

Today I laced up my white converse 

and put in my earbuds 

as I made my trek over the overpass

as I usually do in the morning. 

My jeans had not a wrinkle on them

and my face was set. 

I stood up straight and didn’t hide my face. 

I shut them up. The whole lot. 

Because the me from today isn’t putting up

with their crap. 

200 pages in the book that I’m writing. 

110% on the math test I took. 

I’d like to see them try. 

Try what? 

Try to cope with what I deal with. 

Try to get the grades I do

while battling my own mind.

Try to be as well-read and smart as I am.

Try to survive a day in my life. 

Because I am strong. 

But I am alone here. 

But! 

I have friends, maybe not where I am, 

but they’re there. 

All of them. 

Even if they’re on opposite sides of the world. 

We stand together, 

pens on papers, 

words and pictures flowing. 

But for now I am alone.

One girl standing tall, 

sleeves flapping in the wind. 

Lunchbox in one hand,

books and papers in the other.

She is an imposing figure, 

short but yet tall in a way. 

Here she stands her ground. 

I will fight.