gasping quietly,
stumbling on his feet,
down the hall

tears burn his eyes,
cheeks hot,
face set aflame,
he turns the corner
and slams the door.

headphones jammed into his ears,
cranked up high, he does not want to hear,
the sounds of their shouts.  

he is aware as he keeps quiet,
crumpling to his knees,
mouth open in a silent scream.
he is a screaming boy on his knees,
set on mute.

he feels heavy,
a weight sitting upon his shoulders,
everything negative,
all at once whispering their cruel thoughts to his ears.

headphones jammed into his ears,
cranked up high, he does not want to see,
their disapproving glares.

his fingers curling,
hands pulling into his sides,
they will not go away.

those little voices telling him,
everything negative,
about existence.

headphones jammed into his ears,
cranked up high, he does not want to hear,
their disappointed voices

he is suddenly very small,
insignificant,
the feeling weighs heavier,
than his backpack.
it weighs on his chest.

suddenly he is weightless,
launched off the bed to the waiting floor,
he falls with a crash,
woken from his worst nightmare.

headphones jammed into his ears,
cranked up high,
he can still hear their disapproving tones,
he can still see their disappointed stares.

as he wakes from his worst nightmare.