Mockingbird // 5sauce

25.

25.

And that was it. The day they all dreaded arrived. It was the day of their school project presentation. Atiya wasn't with them so they had one less person in the group but that didn't stop them from presenting it.

"Next group." the principal said, announcing their names next.

The teenagers stepped on the podium and got in order to talk. Their hands were trembling with anxiety and excitement as they re-read the notes in their hands.

Ashton was the first one to speak. He very briefly explained the project and then moved on to tell the story everyone already knew of how the labels were created. Then, he proceeded to talk about the current situation. With a shaky voice, he started what he had been planning for months.

"You probably wouldn't expect me to talk so much, right? But you should know that I love talking. It's one of my favorites things to do. Do you have any idea of how great I feel, standing here, and talking? I haven't done this is in ages. And you know what stopped me from doing something I love? My label. Now, I'm gonna let my friend Kelsey carry on."

"Hi," she timidly said, examining everyone's surprised expressions.

"Labels do prevent you from doing the things you love, at most times. I'm not innocent, at all. I love fucking, I love following no rules. Labels give you certain lifestyles that, for me, it wasn't the one I wanted to follow. And how is that supposed to make us feel like we 'fit in'? If you feel misunderstood and trapped within yourself, how can you feel like you fit in anywhere?"

Kelsey stepped off the podium and looked back at their friends, flashing an anxious smile. Calum was next.

"Feeling misunderstood is one of the worst things ever. You feel anxious and uncomfortable everywhere you go and you constantly feel like there's something wrong with you because you can't 'fit in'. It's sad.

We shouldn't have to go through because, at the end of the day, we're not defined by one single word. We're more than that. We're human. We have a personality and it can't be defined by anyone except ourselves."

Luke squeezed Calum's hand the moment he stepped off the podium.

"Not all of us are affected by this issues, however. But still, we need to try to understand and do something. We have to try our best to help them and use our voice to raise awareness about this for people like me, for example, However, we shouldn't speak over them."

Hannah was next.

"All my life a person who's very close to me has struggled with her label. It's not fair that she tried to die because of it. How is that okay? How is that okay?
We should be happy and appreciate life. We shouldn't be wanting to die because of a stereotype we were forced to follow. How is this system supposed to be good if there are kids out there wanting to kill themselves?"

"I'm one of those kids." Katie flashed her sister a smile and carried on. "This labels don't excuse shit. The way others describe me doesn't give you the right to disrespect me. You don't own me. I'm a doll you can play with, tattooing a meaningless word on my wrist expecting me to play your game. I refuse to."

The audience was starting to feel alarmed and everyone was exchanging glances. However, they stayed quiet. Even the teachers, who looked way too calm for the situation. And the moment Daniella stepped on the podium, she felt like something very bad was about to happen. However, she ignored that feeling and carried on. She couldn't ruin it.

"This society also tells us that the normal is for a man and a woman to love each other. But if two people of the same gender or sex love each other, it's a crime. Why? This society loves to glorify love as if it is the best thing ever. For some it might be, for others maybe not. But if we do make love a normality, then why are we opposed to the idea of two people of the same gender or sex loving each other? It's love, after all.