hannah.banana23

that almost halfway point
in the school year
optimism that you've gotten this far
stressed that you've got three months to go

excitment
spring musical is opening soon
and nyc trip with music department
and warm weather

red is the color scribbled all over me when i see injustice that i want to change
red is not passive but loud and demanding to be shown to the world
red is the color of menstruation, it makes an apperance with no advance warning

glittering chandeliers twinkle greetings from above
ballrooms aglow with smiles of the regency's finest,
and only the most observant see miss daphne bridgerton bump into the duke.

every day i wait
anxious to see if another person of color was murdered.
as white people we are brought up knowing that the police can help us, that they can keep us safe.

i breathe for those who can't.
i breathe for Emmett Till
Breonna Taylor
George Floyd
Ahmaud Arbery
Jamel Floyd 
Sean Monterrosa
and millions more. 
i breathe for those who have been killed for the wrong reasons

i sit in a circle next to kids i know but it feels like i don't
nervousness is practically electric in this room
new freshman 
unsure of our new classes but also confident because, high school
wow