That kid

I see that kid who speaks up in class

The one who shrivels inside when they are targeted

I see that kid who sits in the back

An inconsequential ghost

Always forgotten

I see that kid who is a problem

Who is always pulled from school

Who is tough

But cries in the bathroom stall

I see that kid who crawls into the box 

That people set before them

Crying as their bones snap so they can fit

I see that kid who breaks free from the same box

But loses themselves in the process

Who never cares for for anything

And lets their mind and body decay

I see that kid who sits at a table 

Full of screaming girls

Desperately wishing for someone

Quiet and sane

I see that kid who sits with 

Cussing boys who ignore them

Desperately wishing for someone

Civil and attentive 

I see that kid who can’t sit with those kids they like

Because the table in the middle is full

I see that kid that finds their friends

Finally

I see that kid who watches

As their friends drift away

Because they have different classes

And their interests don’t overlap as much as they thought

I see that kid who still sits with these friends

Silently stewing

Silently screaming

They turn a blind eye 

To the completely inappropriate memes

They turn a blind ear

To the raunchy jokes

‍

These kids are like birds

Trapped in cages

Embedded in the hearts

Of children

Children much too young 

to be facing these things

So smash the cages

Let the birds fly free

Let all of these kids scream

Because they’ve been wanting to for

 A very long time

Don’t let them turn off their cameras 

Don’t let them run to the bathroom

Grab their wrists

Hold them back

Maybe you can cry together

Lily Castello