Young Writers Society

I watched her smile fall away from her face-

Her laughter, the last sunset I remember

Before the sky went dark. 

That happiness became as seldom as the stars.

A villain named clinical depression took her away.

I remember when my grandpa used to smile but

the memory is a distant star because

I watched his smile being pulled away from him-

The corners of his mouth became a straight line.

A villain named Parkinson's disease took him away.

According to some people, one isn't real.

Because depression is

"just a phase"

"just being moody"

"just being a teenager"

"just a feeling"

And all you have to do is

"just be happy"

"just pray about it"

"just smile"

"just stop crying."

I wish someone would've told my grandpa

"just stop shaking"

"just stand up"

"just get stronger"

"just talk normal"

Because maybe he would've gotten better.

Because that's how you beat the bad guy, right?

Why are some villains magically not real 

Because they affect a different side of the brain?

You say you don't understand the things

You can't see but I see

Grandpa in a wheelchair because he can't walk

Grandpa's mouth hardly moving saying "I love you"

Grandpa trying to smile even though he can't

Just as I can see

My friend's straight line of a smile

My friend not coming to school in two weeks

My friend laughing just once to my amazement.

So don't say it isn't real because

I've seen depression take my best friend

Just like I've seen Parkinson's take my grandpa.

These disease, so different, share one thing:

they take away.