To the Bullies and their Victims

See that girl just sitting in the corner? Yeah, the one with the glasses and messy hair? See that book she's reading, the one that captured her attention and has yet to let go? She looks at it like its her best friend, like it can save her life. Doesn't she know its just a book? Or does it mean something more to her? But see the way she glances up every once in a while, to sure that no one is bothering her? She's expecting another visit from those girls The ones who call her names and mock her Who tease her and treat her like she's stupid? See the torn edges of the book, the way it looks as if it got into a fight defending her? Well it kinda did, taking the brunt of their torture The pages are curling, still damp from that puddle Her favorite pages ripped and torn and laughed at Because they don't know the hope and joy that fills every page of that book bringing comfort to her pain when no one else will There's a boy who strolls through the hallway like he owns it Everyone thinks nothing bothers him He pushes anyone in his way into the lockers Mocks and jokes about the kids who are different hoping that maybe someday, someone will see his own pain They don't know that when he goes home His older brother is there to ruin that facade Their parents don't see, they're too busy worrying about bills to notice His brother has his own chores to do, but makes his little brother do them "It'll teach him to be strong and not to be lazy," he says. He claims that he does so much for all of them but really, he spends "work" hanging out with his girlfriend. The boy does his brother's homework on top of his knowing that if he doesn't, he'll get beaten or humiliated. One day he figures he'll stand up, like how he wishes the kids at school would do Because if they could, then couldn't he stand up to his brother too? One day he will, one day someone will show him how.