his teeth bit down into his upper lip untill
it bleed and he could taste
the iron inbetween his teeth.
his eyes were not wiltering
but his anger
was.

he didn't enjoy school, not one bit.
he was different; physically, spirituality and emotionally

he did not care about his
face nor his anger
nor his awkward
boney gait

he only cared about how the other eyes
who stared at him
reacted
with their bait
and he was a starving fish
falling for the venom each time.

he gripped the school bag as he dragged himself through the halls, looking up to see the tall man standing there

he was tall--not taller than Erik--but indeed, tall.
he had slick blonde hair
that looked like the sun's drippings
and his eyes as blue as the
atlantic.

his words to him were always a
"leave me alone";
even though he was the only kid so far
to remotely ever show him any kindness.

he didn't know how to react to the gestures
so instead of thank yous and polite nods
he shoved him away with his boney hands and looked at the floor with teary eyes.

for the first time in a while, erik felt tinges of guilt for his actions
for raoul (that was his name, right?)
did not mean harm.

but again, that's what they all said.