SETTING: Willow's bedroom. Everything is the same as before, except the window is closed and the curtains are drawn.
AT RISE: HAZEL is looking around the desk, while CASSIA is staring at the pictures on the wall.
(HAZEL is rummaging through a drawer, and she finds a tattered, worn book. The pages are visibly wrinkled.)
HAZEL: Cassia, look.
(HAZEL flips through the pages.)
HAZEL: This is... her diary.
(CASSIA takes the diary from HAZEL and begins to read it. Meanwhile, HAZEL turns on the computer and looks at some social media website.)
WILLOW: (off)
October 17, 2016.
Today my dad's identity was stolen, they haven't caught the culprit. Our bank account is draining. He is devastated. I don't know what I'll do. I want to help but I don't know how, I'm still in school.
December 3, 2016
It happened again. I wouldn't tell a soul other than this book, not even Hazel nor Cassia. He hit me. He called me a useless child and went into a frenzy. This is the 7th time. I'm beginning to think he's right... I'm tired of feeling like a victim. I'm tired of most things these days.
December 4, 2016
I'm so tired of nothing ever working out for me, so today I did the job for my dad. I cut myself because I'm worthless. I'm a nobody. My dad doesn't love me and my mom doesn't care. I'm only breathing for Hazel and Cassia.
HAZEL: December 4? That's the timestamp on this comment... From sophiepotatolover43--
SOPHIE: (off) HAHA look at this photo SHE'S SOO FAKE. Honey, you'll never be pretty so STOP TRYING, you'll never succeed so maybe you should STOP LIVING.
HAZEL: From sophiepotatolover43--
SOPHIE: (off) No response? LOL bye bye loser
HAZEL: (horrified) 57 likes. Here's another website she went to... psychologytoday.com. It's a online therapy website... From willowtree97 2 months ago--
WILLOW: (off) Dear doctor, what should I do? I'm really, really sad and I want to be happy. Is that even possible for me anymore? Is there something wrong with me? I've dropped off the honor roll, my grades are slipping... and sometimes I think my future is slowly fading away...
HAZEL: From Dr.Ginnifer.Ramirez 2 months ago--
ONLINE THERAPIST: (off) (in a sweet, condescending tone) To Willow:
Hi Willow! I'm so very sorry to hear about that! As for anything being wrong with you, yes unfortunately you have a mental disability called depression.
HAZEL: From Dr.Ginnifer.Ramirez 1 month ago--
ONLINE THERAPIST: (off) Hi Willow! I haven't spoken to you in a long time. How are you doing?
HAZEL: From willowtree97 3 weeks ago--
WILLOW: (off) Doctor, I think I want to kill myself. It's all too much... Is there something wrong with me?
HAZEL: From Dr.Ginnifer.Ramirez 2 weeks ago--
ONLINE THERAPIST: (off) Oh my goodness, YES, there is something very wrong. WHY are you considering suicide? I don't know you but you have so much to live for! What about your family and friends? What will they think, you are taking so much love away from them! Don't you think that's selfish? Suicide is the worst form of cowardice, the easy way out! DON'T DO IT.
HAZEL: From willowtree97 2 weeks ago--
WILLOW: (off) You just don't get it, do you.
HAZEL: Sometimes it's the people trying to help that break us... The things the doctor said to her...
CASSIA: ...that it's cowardly, that it's selfish, making her feel like a freak by saying something is wrong with her...
HAZEL: ...asking her why she wanted to commit, or tell her that she had so much to live for. Refusing to acknowledge that she was hurting.
CASSIA: (pause) I just wonder if we would've said the same thing, had we known.
MRS. ANDERSON: (off) Hazel! Your mom is here!
HAZEL: Okay, coming!
(END OF SCENE)
YOU ARE READING
If Only We Had Noticed
Mystery / ThrillerThe tale of a girl's footprints left after death. Willow Anderson just killed herself. Her friends are trying to find out why. What happend to the girl they knew? What happend to the girl who they thought was so happy during her time? Find out in "I...
