“Hi there!”

“Hello,

how’s it going?”

“It’s going well, thanks,

how are you doing?”

“I’m …”

(enter, internal monologue)

I wonder how he’s doing

... having a horrible day,

I feel like I’m worthless

like nothing I do matters

like no one cares if I’m alive

or dead

like I’m here to listen

but not be heard

scarcely even noticed

I’m lonely, so very lonely

but the only ones I can talk to

(how can I talk to anyone else?)

suggest a pill, or therapy

when all I want

is to be heard ...

(exit, internal monologue)

“… okay,

thanks for asking.”

“Great!

Well, I’ve got to be going,

be seeing you.”

“Yup,

take care, eh!”

“Thanks,

you too.”

“Will do.

See you later.”

“Bye.”