Max

One of my best friends,

Max is his name.

And today, October 9th,

Was the day he felt the shame.

He drank away his feelings,

And bleed out his saddness.

The pain he felt, 

Made his head a mess.

When I read "I almost died last night,"

I thought it was a joke. 

But, then he said, "I'm in the hospital."

And I started to choke. 

The tears sprang to my eyes

As I re-read that text.

Why is this happening?

What was next?

I left soon after that,

Walked right out of class.

Nothing my teacher could say

Was more important than Max.

I drove faster than I ever have,

And all I remember

Is shaking so badly,

I couldn't get air.

I got there and he opened the door,

And I smiled.

He said, "What? It's not funny!"

"No, but you're not dead."

He fell fast asleep,

On the couch next to me.

And I kept thinking, "You're so beautiful."

But he would never agree.

He doesn't understand his beauty,

It shows inside and out.

I know he feels like a monster,

That monster claiming his body throughout.

I just want to shake him,

And yell, "Max, you matter!"

"I love you, so much."

"Please don't let my heart shatter."

I am so happy to see him alive,

Scared, but full of glee.

Because I can fix something broken,

But not something that doesn't breathe.