Never Again

The Lesson

Riley's POV

"Ok class, today we will talk about mental illnesses and their effects. More specifically, the ones that affect teenagers like yourselves."
I was confused at first. What on earth was Dad talking about?
"These mental illnesses may not be regarded as actual mental illnesses. Sometimes they are brushed off as attention seeking, and some say that it's just a frame of mind that has to be changed. But these are wrong assumptions. And to anyone who might be struggling with these in secret, I encourage you to tell me or an adult you trust." A wave of panic started. He knows, he knows, he knows... Until I realized he was looking at Maya. Usually, she would defiantly match his gaze, but today she stared at her desk, almost like... But it couldn't be. Dad started writing different words on the board. Words that I'd searched many times, in an effort to understand how I felt. I went over what each word meant as he listed them - Depression- feelings of severe despondency and dejection, dysthymia- chronic depression, suicidal- expressing thoughts or actions of wanting to end ones life, self-harm- the act of purposefully hurting yourself, often a coping method of depression, anorexia... what? I had never read of anorexia anywhere.
"Can someone tell me what all these words mean?" My fathers voice broke my thoughts. I certainly wasn't going to raise my hand, but Farkle did. While he explained the ones I already knew, I glanced at Maya. Her face had turned white as a sheet, like she was scared of something. I tuned back into what Farkle was saying, "...coping method of depression, anorexia-"
"Wait, Farkle," My dads soft voice broke off Farkle's robot one." I want Maya to explain this one." Without looking at anyone, Maya ran out of the classroom. Looking at my dad, he nodded and said "Go." I ran after Maya, not sure what to say, but I knew I had to be there for my best friend.