1:57am

3:27am

3:27am

"Once there a was a boy, and he had everything. Parents who loved him, friends to play footy with at school, good grades, and every toy, book, and game he ever wished for.

"One day, his parents didn't pick him up from school. He waited, and waited, and waited, until the sky opened up and rain fell upon him, soaking him to the core. Eventually, his parents picked him up, but something was different. Something was off and it made his stomach turn.

"Everything turned upside down. Suddenly his parents didn't love him, and ignored him whenever he spoke to them, or told him to go away. He lost confidence in himself, and lost friends too. His grades fell, and he no longer enjoyed his toys and books and games.

"Instead, he found a new game. One where you could draw with silver and it could come out red."

"Tyler..."

"Shh, I'm not done. Anyway, he was instantly hooked on this game, playing it every night when his parents were sound asleep. It made him feel something other than loneliness.

"His game became boring, and he decided he was ready, ready for the next level."

"Tyler, no..."

"He went into his dad's garage where he found a long, thick rope, and tied it just the way he'd seen. He was good like that, able to copy exactly what he saw. He tied one end on the ceiling fan in his room, and looped the other over his head.

"That was as far as he got. His grandmother walked in at just that moment, saving his life, or, as he felt at the time, making it even worse. After that, things got better. His parents' attention returned, as did his confidence and friends. He stopped playing his game, and picked up the football instead."

"That boy...that was you, wasn't it?"

Silence.

"Tyler?"

"Yeah?"

"Was it you?"

"Yeah."

"I'm so sorry."

"Don't be. I'm fine now, completely recovered. What I was trying to say was that I understand, that I wasn't just saying that. I know exactly what you're going through and I'm living proof that things get better."