Is there anyone out there?

Nope

I'm not going back to school.

I'm going to ignore the back-to-school ads

And shopping trips

The packing

The new outfits

The brand-new pencils

I won't do it

Noise

Warming up

Keys

Fingerings

Chatter

Laughter

The chorale

Stopping

Starting

"Again"

"I know you can do better than that"

Serious but

You also love it

Cornered

I put my hands up

Like you taught me

Only now

You're the one attacking

"Helping" because

You "just want me to feel better"

And I braced for impact