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