Stop

I walk the school hallways surrounded by fear.

Today will it be gunshots we hear?

We're already surrounded by rumors and lies,

Or we won't be accepted so we wear a disguise.

So many people have already died

From hate that surrounds us every day of our lives.

Trying to judge us in every single way,

Religion. Race. Politics. Gender. Straight or gay.

Every day someone else could get shot.

Hate is the culprit that needs to get caught.

I think of my family, cousins, classmates, and friends.

Today will one of their lives end?

All we want is to go to school and learn.

But maybe, one day, we will never return.

Enough is enough. Even once was too much.

I hope there will be people these words will touch.

Once it is over it seems like people forgot.

But all of this terror and death needs to stop.