I’m sorry I cry.

Please try to ignore it for now.

And just know I’m sorry.

 

You’ve never seen this in me.

To you, I am joy.

Every day I bring the happiness and laughs people love.

Each day. Every day.

I come to school, with my backpack full of

good stories,

advice,

support,

life.

People like it, and I do too.

 

So that is why I can’t be honest.

People wouldn’t like it. You wouldn’t like it.

I may be full of smiles but they are only to barricade the tears.

Please, please don’t look. It is hard for me to—

 

HELLO MY NAME IS JOI. I CRY EVERYTIME MY PARENTS SCOLD ME. I MAY NOT BE THE PERFECT CHILD I STRIVE TO BE, BUT HEY, WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO? YES, I AM EMOTIONAL. HOWEVER NO ONE SEEMS TO NOTICE. I HAVE AN OBSESSION WITH ONE PERSON BUT THEY DON’T KNOW YET AND I CAN’T WAIT TO TELL THEM. I LOVE TO BE BOLD. I AM AWKWARD, AND TRIP OVER MY OWN SENTENCES. I AM OFTEN TOLD TO STAY QUIET BUT I’M TIRED OF THAT. LOOK AT ME! NOTICE ME! LOOK AT ME!!! NOTICE M—

 

Oh, goodness. Again, I apologize.

You weren’t supposed to see that.

She is rather loud.

 

No no, look here instead. Yes, at me.

That will make things so much easier.

Thank you.