Hallway Dweller: A Nonfiction Novel

Part One

Every part of this story is true, except for the pseudonym I have chosen to use for him, the subject of this depressingly true novel.

It has been months since I've last seen Mr Denmark. I was banned from seeing him by the administration, simply because they believed my friendship with him was getting in the way of being social.

His friendship was the only true happiness I had left at the time. It's my Junior year, and I've known him since the start of my Sophomore year.

He taught me about writing, but also how to compare life's constant struggles to a novel. When I was skipping meals because of my depression, he always made sure I ate every last bite of my food. He made sure I always held my head up.

He'd say wise things that I still remember to this day, such as "When a character leaves a story, the main character can work on themselves or meet other characters,"

It's not the exact quote, the exact one is somewhere in the depths of my inbox. Memories that were left untouched and left alone ever since the ban.

On the day I was banned from him, he was the first one to tell me. He explained his point of view, adding, "I'm not trying to hurt you,"

I understood he had meant well, I truly did, but throughout that conversation I was unable to speak. I just kept crying harder. He explained to me why it had happened. He told me everything he thought I might have needed to know.

But there's still so much hurt and pain I carry within me from that day. I've missed his friendship every day since then. But he's gone now.

When I see him walk past me, he doesn't say a word. If he does see me, he doesn't acknowledge my existence.

Seeing him hurts me far more than words can say. Thinking of him hurts just as much. Simply remembering the good memories brings tears to my eyes. It has been incredibly difficult to write this.

I'm doing this because I can't keep the pain inside any longer. I've cried nearly every night for hours, and at school. It doesn't help. But I'm not giving up. I have to keep fighting through the tears. It's the only choice I have.