School Days

By Laurie Epps

Today's post is a little dark for me. It comes from a very special place in my heart. Recently, I had one of my women from Bible Girlfriends Online tell me her friend committed suicide. Though there are a few things they have out there for trying to talk the victims out of committing suicide, there isn't much I've found about what we can do emotionally to navigate the gauntlet of feelings for the victims. With a heavy heart, I want to reach out to my readers who have lost someone this way.

*****Note: May be inappropriate for sensitive readers

Tearfully Dedicated to Michelle Marie Doane
May 2, 1969-July 4, 2001

School Days

By Laurie Epps

We were great friends

Cried over split ends

Boys heads would spin about

Two knock outs without a doubt

Your life came to an end

I miss you my friend

Sparkling blue eyes, and long blond hair

All of the boys stopped to stare

I was tall and thin

Raven hair and ivory skin

Your life came to an end

I miss you my friend

You'd snort when you laugh

I was truly your other half

Watering eyes rolling back in your head

Sometimes I wished I had your life instead

Your life came to an end

I miss you my friend

You'd make fun of how I eat

Hands in my lap, every bite petite

You said it was like a dance

Did I want a wine list, per chance?

Your life came to an end

I miss you my friend

We grew up together

Many storms we weathered

Your life seemed so glamourous 

You remained forever amorous 

Your life came to an end

I miss you my friend

You wrote a 14 page letter about freedom

Your epitaph and denial of God's Kingdom

Though others saw your inner beauty

To end your life, you felt your duty

Your life came to an end

I miss you my friend

Laurie Epps is a senior at Anderson University majoring in Creative Writing. Already Laurie is most published as a feature article writer, essayist, and poet. A seeker of beauty and world traveler, Laurie hopes to grow into a career in travel writing illuminating the many stories that make us human despite our differences. Currently, Laurie also has a Monday Morning Book Club column dedicated to writers everywhere, and column called Fiction to Film that is an accompaniment to English 365 at Anderson University.