Abandonment

    He thought a lot that day. Would the rope hold him by the neck? would the metal bar in his closet break with his weight? Who would find him? his sister, mother, father? His fingers ran over the coarse rope, his eyes staring past the scene into memories of his pain. He knew he was being selfish, but after a decade of pleasing everyone else, didn't he deserve it? something he wanted for once. He knew people would remember him in school days after death. But maybe, now, they would notice the other suffering kids. Kids like him.
    He stepped on the stool. Prepared to die. End the horrors. He was ready for his neck to break, for him to hang in the closet by the rough rope. Sixteen years was enough for him. Enough for him to know the world wasn't getting any better. The rope slipped easily around his neck. His pulse was strong, pounding in his ears, teasing him, mocking his life. The need to end it. The step off the stool, with the rope on his neck seemed like hours, when really it was only a second. Was the note readable? Was he right? But by the time he decided not to take his life, it was too late. He hung in the closet, his face still wet with tears.
    Dinner! her mother called up the stairs. The girl came prancing down the stairs, happy, with nothing to worry about. Her mother and father were busy, so she decided to get her brother. She knocked on the door and was a little spooked to hear it creak open. Her eyes widened. There was almost nothing in the room. The bed was made, books neatly stacked into piles. She slowly made her way to the middle of the room. To look at the only out of place thing, a piece of paper. "Michael!" she called, "this isn't funny!" she picked up the note, glanced at the closet, and screamed.

    Her brother. Hanging solemnly in the closet by his neck. dead. the realization hit her as her parents came racing up the stairs. dead. her older brother. her protector. The one that helped her with homework. and who always listened to her. The only one who seemed to treat her like an adult. dead. She sat in the room, crying, screaming at him, clawing her hands, arms, legs. dead. Her parents read the note, and called 911. Left her screaming in pain.