A Collection Of Short Stories

No One Sees

No one sees.

All the signs are there.

But no one notices.

I used to love rock-climbing. I use to really, really like it. It was a passion. It was.

I quit my classes a couple weeks ago. Said I didn't want to do it anymore. That I was just sick of it, really. No one questioned me. They didn't see.

I use to really care about how I looked. I had a subscription to a bunch of fashion and beauty magazines. I loved makeup and clothes. 

I unsubscribed from my magazines. I only wash my hair when I really have to. My bangs are growing out. I prefer sweatpants and hoodies to dresses and fancy shoes. I haven't bought new clothes in ages. No one noticed. No one said anything. I was always over-dressed anyway, so I guess people thought I was trying to fit in.

Once, we were in English class. We were reading a story about a depressed soldier who had lost all hope. Who was afraid, because when he went out there, he could die at any moment. Said it drove him crazy. That he lived. That he was always in "the lucky ones". Because his friends were dying and he was killing others and those others tried to kill him.

It was a bit too much for me. I had to read that letter. I started crying. No one noticed. Well, maybe they did, but they didn't do anything about it. They just kind of ignored it. My teacher did ask me at the end of class if I was okay, but I just told her I had a grandfather who died in the war. Wrong. But oh well. It's not like I could tell her the truth.

A couple of days ago, I went through all my stuff in my room. I gave away books, clothes, jewelry. People were glad. They were happy, thankful that I thought to give things to them, since I was doing a "spring cleaning". They didn't see it. Didn't notice.

My grades slipped. Just a little, tough. Not enough for my teachers to contact my parents. But enough for people to notice.

That is, if they wanted to.

Obviously they didn't.

Because no one said anything. Guess I need to stop expecting things from people.

All the signs were there. We studied those signs. You are all aware of this. All of you.

You just decided not to do anything about it. About me.

Because I don't matter, do I?

Guess not.

So when I don't come into school one day, and you think I'm sick...

Well, I've been sick. For a long time.

And you could have done something about it. But you didn't. 

So.

It's not your fault I have problems. 

But it your fault they had consequences.