Fainting Goat

Shut up.

Shut up.

The voices get louder.

A million people that do not exist outside of my head.

They tell me things.

They make me do things.

I have no way to fight them.

I can’t get a single word in.

A million words fight to break free.

So many, that I cannot speak.

I try and I try, but it doesn’t matter.

I am mute, my voice lost to this world.

I have so many things to say.

So many emotions to convey.

When I was young,

I loved fairytales.

I loved that no matter what,

There was always a happy ending.

But as I got older,

I realized something:

Happy endings don’t exist for everyone.

Everyone dies.

A clock ticks on the wall.

All the other kids are talking.

I can’t think.

I can’t focus.

I’m lost.

Detached from the world.

I look up, and see someone leaning against the wall.

I know them…but how?

You see, I’m a dead fish. My name is Robert III. You may be wondering, Who would name a fish? Well, all fish have names, thank you very much. Your next question might be, Wait, if you’re dead, how are you telling this story?

Change can be scary,

but it must be achieved.

Determination is the best tool

to change how we live.

If you are afraid to change,

that's okay.

Change isn't easy,

but it must be done.