Graduation 2007

I walk through these hallways alone and silent-

The teal bricks are ugly and 70’s-

Taped up signs proclaiming different sporting events that I will never attend-

Sheets of chemistry homework stain the floor-

Lockers are askew and empty-

This year is over, just like it was last year-

But this fall I won’t be coming back-

This fall I won’t even look back-

Teachers clean out their desks and grade finals-

I close my eyes and take in the quiet-

Graduation will take place soon in the sweaty gym-

Parents snapping pictures frantically-

I will be among that crop of hopeful participants-

Ready to throw my cap into the air-

And weep at the slideshow with pictures of people I never knew-

And proclaim this year has finished-

No more reading silently in the library-

No more rolling my eyes at the stupid immature comments-

No more ignoring the people who made fun of me-

No more cliques-

No more gossip-

This truth took a week to seep in-

But now it’s overwhelming-

I made it-

I survived-

These prim suffering years that are high school-

No more bickering with my art teacher-

No more skipping detentions-

No more criticizing lunch menus-

No more mocking the stupid sophomores-

No more homework-

No more classes-

I sit upon the floor down the hallway that once held my locker-

Now it’s empty and smells of cleaning solutions-

My name appeared in the yearbook once-

As unpictured-

So I guess that I didn’t even exist at this school-

And that thought comforts me-

I wasn’t popular-

I didn’t go to dances-

I won’t be drinking with other students after graduation-

I’ll only be attending two senior parties-

I won’t even have one myself because I don’t know who I would invite-

But as I sit back and think about-

All the things that these people consider to be important-

I don’t feel left out-

I feel content-

I didn’t waste my time with clubs and activities-

I didn’t deal with the drama about who who’s boyfriend-

These people look back at me and see something they wish they can ignore-

Yet they have no plans for this fall, no plans for their future-

they intend to work at McDonalds for their lives-

But no, not me-

I’m going continuing with school, I’ll have real friends there-

A new life where no one knew me-

No more of these shallow superficial bitches-

No more of these sweaty arrogant jocks-

No more weird kids in black with headphones-

No more quiet geeks to watch get taunted-

No more insane teachers ranting about eternity-

No more feeling left out-

I smile to myself-

And hum an old lullaby-

This is it-

Over-

I survived.