This morning when I left Mom's parting words were, "Come straight home after school." Wow! Like I'm going to get stoned at 3:30—it doesn't sound so bad at that.

They have accepted me as an individual, as a personality, as an entity. I belong! I am important! I am somebody!

Nobody's talking to me, but nobody's hassling me either. I guess you can't have everything.

How can thoughts hurt so much when they aren't even physical?

Why is life so difficult? Why can't we be just ourselves and have everyone accept us the way we are?

The voice of every kid hooked on drugs, alcohol or the occult joins the sad chorus "Not me! I didn't think it could ever happen to me. I was sure I could handle it.

I pretend I've got lots of confidence and I'm a big jock and like that but deep inside I'm a frightened, insecure, can't-make-it failure.