Collateral Damage

"writing the words of a sermon that no one will hear ..." Beatles, Eleanor Rigby This poem refers to the increasing number of teenagers suffering from depression and anxiety during the pandemic. a girl sixteen years old Jane Rigby her name enjoyed learning bass guitar dreaming of fame she had many friends and was good at school too young Jane was convinced that her dreams would come true pandemic gosh darn it this meant separation so lonely the people in forced isolation too many fell victim to pure desperation and mostly affected: the young generation "day after day life is empty and idle" once lively Jane had become suicidal lasting for hours she stared at the wall even lost interest in her best friends´ call "don't want to talk to them, they not to me, leave me alone, Mom, back off, let it be" mindlessly scrolling her phone the whole night claiming aggressively "I am alright" writing the words of a song full of fear that - she already knew - no one would hear listlessly woke up lost visibly weight for virtual classes began to be late then social media flustered her mind followed examples of beauty like blind marvelled some starlets with pictures touched up "girl, too much screen time" "oh mother, shut up" poor Jane withdrew from life not realizing she had been netted in smart advertising can´t replace eye contact, skin and warm breath finally grabbed a knife and bled to death it happened a year ago middle of May "collateral damage" I heard someone say fine words of farewell were engraved on her stone I silently added "she felt all alone"