My freshman year of high school

I didn’t think

I would turn into a zombie-like insomniac

But I did.

The first time I pulled an all-nighter

I think I was proud

I don’t remember

I was too delirious.

On the high school brochure

The bright colors and big letters

Spelling out empty promises

Don’t tell you

That to succeed in life

Means to give up being human

I never noticed the clock until I turned 15

But suddenly it was as if time never stilled.

Ten minutes felt like ten seconds

And I still can’t breathe properly