in this perfect land where
everyone knows your name
everyone knows your grade
your house
your favorite subject,
your most hated teacher,
what you had for lunch
(the color of your underwear)

i am alone.

they are all around me, yes
they speak to me
have classes with me
walk over to the house with me
eat meals with me

and yet,
they are not my friends.

they do not know my middle name
(or that I have two)
they do not know I could have skipped a grade
that i wish i was in a different house
that my favorite subject switches every day
i don't actually hate any of my teachers
that lunch is harder when you're vegetarian
(that i wish i had more black underwear)

only i know these things.
(because no one else takes the time to find out)