The hustle and bustle of the campus dies down as the bell rings. The metaphorical bars slide across the doorways, locking students inside. The teachers reluctantly stand, mentally preparing themselves for the barrage of sarcasm and disrespect they have learned to endure.
As I open my textbook to the page written on the board, I look out the window. How much longer will I have to live like this?
A few months ago, my mom decided to move in with her boyfriend, who lives just outside of my old school district. I had to start over, at a school that is only marginally better than juvie. I try to remain unnoticed. Just keep your head down, and nobody gets hurt.
My friends still keep in touch, as promised. They send me letters, writing about new crushes, or how much fun they had at so-and-so’s party, how sad they are I had to move, or how much they miss me. But no one volunteers to visit. I gets harder and harder to write back, my insincerity becoming more and more obvious.

How much longer can I take it?