I used to have this friend. Care-free. Inspired. Intelligent. A beautiful soul. They were living their life to the fullest with no worries. Every day there was a smile on their face and laughter that was so genuine it was almost silent. They were the kind of person that would pick up the phone at 3 a.m. to talk--even if it was just to listen to me yell about the latest Grey's Anatomy character to fall victim to "Seattle Grace Mercy Death." They were the one who knew that when I would say "I'm fine" it meant, "I'm not really fine but it's okay," and then would proceed to sing old Nickelodeon theme songs in hopes it would cheer me up-- which it always did. They accepted my obsession for One Direction and would eventually give in and sing along while throwing in the occasional eye roll. They were someone who I aspired to be in every way-- and then things changed.

Someone new had come into their life. Someone who I could tell was a poison. I never said anything because it wasn't my place. It wasn't my right. Each day, there was something new, or more-so something changed. The first thing to go was the living life with no worries. Suddenly every worry, every insecurity they had was brought up the surface... courtesy of the poison. That led to the care-free spirit becoming a more anxious one. The laugh became more of a huff with a slight smile that lasts all of 2 seconds. The sparkle that came with their eyes had faded. 3 a.m. phone calls became 3 p.m. drunk calls which would last less than the previously mentioned Nickelodeon theme songs.

I never thought I would have had a chance to talk to the culprit of all of this. I had thought about what I would say about a hundred times, and then I got the opportunity. Except there was something inside of me. Something telling me that my words would just make it worse. So I stayed silent. That silence lasted a year and change, taking a part of them with every second passing. It was torturous to me to just watch all of this happen, feeling as though I couldn't do anything and if I tried, it would be like adding gas to a fire.

The day finally came. The day the antidote showed itself and the poison packed its bags. Remnants still remain but over time will disappear. With that, I'm hoping that the sparkle in the eye comes back and brings his old pal laughter. I hope they kick out insecurity and all his friends. I hope they can rebuild what they once were, get their sense of self back, and be happy.