Hey, what’s up? How're ya doing?

I’m fine. How about you?

Good.

Ever think that maybe

I’m NOT fine?

No. You didn’t

Because you didn’t really care when you asked

You just did it because it was “polite,”

The right thing to do.

When did we just start going through the motions

And forget about our emotions?

Ask me again:

How am I?

I’ll tell you.

I’m NOT okay.

My cat died this morning,

I just failed a test.

Because I was in the hospital last night.

I recently applied to college

And found out I was denied,

I spent the whole night crying

When all I really feel like doing is dying.

But no,

That’s not how this confrontation would go,

We would each flash a shallow toothless grin,

A one worded apathetic response,

“Good.”

And be on our way...

See, I could tell you all of this,

But why would you care?

We all live life in a hidden despair

Shrouded by a false sense of friendliness

Suppose that I did share all of this with you?

What would you do?

Judge me?

Tell me things will get better?

Wish you hadn’t said anything to me at all?

Because in our time of dying,

What’s better,

Genuine interest or complete silence?