Patrick’s story:

“Mommy, listen, this boy at school…”

Mom answers with, “Patrick, how often have I told you to stand up for yourself, kiddo? Or even better, beat the other boy up! We did that in our time and it worked!”

Oh, Mom, I wish you’d listen. Not because you can fix it, but I need you to listen to how lonely I feel.

Every day I do my best to make good grades. I can’t, I cannot do it. They are whispering behind my back in the classroom the moment the teacher moves. They call me awful names. I can’t tell you, but it is so bad, very bad. A piece of paper falls onto my desk. I open it. It shows a boy hanging himself, and under that—“The world is better off without you, Patrick!”

What if I did not exist tomorrow? Is that possible?

Would someone at this rotten school miss me?

My mom and dad are divorced. I live one week with one and the next week with the other. They are always mad at me… Like when I forget some of my sports gear.

I do not like my new stepdad. He never talks to me.

Is it like this behind every front door? My mother is texting while I talk about the game today. No, they will definitely not miss me. I feel the answer is so clear now. Tomorrow, I will be free of it all. I looked up on my phone

how… how to…

Why am I scared? I am at my dad’s tomorrow, and he comes home late.

It is the last time I can say goodbye to my only friend at school. I go up to him and tell him my plan. He looks at me. He does not believe me. I can tell! He tells me it will get better. “Just ignore the idiots. Ignore them! Do you hear me?” he shouts at me. “Are you listening, man?”

No, I am not! I am not. I have made up my mind. I just can’t take it any longer. I can’t. I am sorry…

When school gets out, I walk to my dad’s house; it’s not too far. Inside, I walk up the stairs. With each step, I wonder why I have this empty feeling. How come nobody knows what is inside of me?

Two more steps. I made the rope last week and hid it in the closet under the toy shelf. I take one last look around my room. I see my homework that will never be finished. My hand is on the doorknob of the closet. The pain will stop now…

The headlines in the morning news say that a young boy of seven took his life.

I listened, Patrick. I truly listened.

This is why our story starts right now

This is an excerpt from my book "I Can Find My Might" https://amzn.com/1634437268

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GABRIELA VAN RIJ [pronounced “ray”] is a speaker, author of 3 books, & activist for kindness who has been seen by millions on Dr. Phil, ABC, CBS, NBC, and FOX. During October National Bullying Prevention Month, Gabriella will be hitting the road and speaking at schools across the US with her anti-bullying 4-step program. Blame is not the cure. Action is. End bullying. Read more articles from Gabriella.