“New Year’s is coming,
Be happy,” family insists.
But it’s just another year —
Another year for lies,
“you're my best friend,
I would never talk behind your back,”
for the struggles of friendships
to return.
What’s the point
in celebrating?

“You’re going to
see friends again,”
they encourage.
Friends are supposed to help,
but how can
the group of them when
they don’t know
what’s going on?

I stumble into class,
for another day of boredom.
The teacher starts talking,
and my thoughts take over.

One sentence leads
me back into the classroom.

“These will be the four
happiest, and
saddest words
you will ever hear.”
I look at the whiteboard
and my spirits lift
at the words in green,
“This too shall pass.”