A Note To My Teenage Self

Take extra everything, more than you think you need.

Go up the old forest trails no one uses,

Because you are no one, yourself.

Do not stop walking until you cannot go farther.

This will give you extra time to use

Before anyone can find/stop/save/destroy you.

Take the pills before the alcohol,

Since two sips of vodka in you will

Be too trashed to continue. (You are trash.)

Do not bring your cellphone or a note

For dramatic last goodbyes.

No one wanted to hear what you said

Or had to say, in the first place.

The pep talk the world wants to give you

About things getting better one day somehow

Is a lie. It will get much, much worse.

Show yourself the mercy they won't

And make a swift exit from this life

While you are still courageous.

(They will break you if you live.)