Your failures and your faults, they stick with you. They glob into ugly, cancerous growths inside you and make you want to die.

Our eyes met across the crowded room, like in the movies, except we didn't share a knowing smile and race into each other's arms. Instead I fell into the trash can.

I never defended myself. Not once. I never said, "Excuse me? What gives you the right to insult and demean me?" I let them steal my dignity.

My room is cleared. My head is cleared. Earlier, around dawn, I took out the last load of trash. I look around and see what's left. Nothing. There is no more Daelyn Rice. As I was. As I am. Or will become. I'm a blank slate

Why am i here? What's my purpose?

I had to fight so hard not to cry.

I know it's hard on her. If I don't tell her she'll kill me." He pauses. "That was supposed to be funny.