So They Tell You...

You cannot help someone who does not want to be helped.

That’s what they tell you, to make you feel better

When your heart is being retched out of your chest day in and day out

When your lungs feel as though they are filled with water, gasping for air

And, Slowly you can feel yourself suffocate on words you never thought you’d hear

You cannot help someone who does not want to be helped.

That’s what you tell your best friend months after

When you can’t feel yourself anymore

When everything you pushed for is gone,

And, Slowly you can feel yourself suffocate on words you never thought you’d hear

You cannot help someone who does not want to be helped.

Repeat it to yourself until its engraved

Say it over and over to make yourself remember

Remind the neighbor, mom, cat, horse, teammate, umpire, dad

And, Slowly you can feel yourself suffocate on words you never thought you’d hear

You cannot help someone who does not want to be helped.

Until 3AM on a Monday you’re sitting on the bedroom floor gasping for air

Until 4 AM on a Tuesday you’re throwing up between the gasps

Until 9 AM on a Wednesday when you’re realizing you’d rather be dead than alive.

And, Slowly you can feel yourself suffocate on words you never thought you’d hear.

You cannot help someone who does not want to be helped

That’s what they tell you to make you feel better.

To make you “know” it was not all your fault.

To make you understand the burning you feel when you say the words will go away.

And, Slowly you can feel yourself suffocate on words you never thought you’d hear.