I am here as one of you.

So listen.

I mean really listen

without anything in your way

to stop the waves

from crashing over your drums.

If you are "listening,"

why are you still holding onto

that yellow highlighter

like it could save you

when you're already drowning?

You are not living.

The action of running

in circles and in place

is a living paradox.

I am telling you as one of you.

I know how tired eyes

is not just an expression.

They weigh on shoulders and spines

like knotted chains.

They strangle and leave scars on hearts

because they drain the life out of you

when you are just trying to swallow air.

If you know more about sleepless nights, all nighters,

and never having a full eight,

please tell me

what are you accomplishing?

What are you learning from this?

Are you learning that humans can be

pushed and shoved into

the spines of books?

Well, they can and do.

So why are you letting yourself

fold like a paper crane

just for the sake of a letter?

Why is it when you walk

it seems like you are

standing over quicksand?

Always floating yet sinking.

I am not telling you to give up.

I am not telling you what you are doing

is not going to make you successful.

I am not saying that you are not going

to make it to that finish line.

I just want you to see what you are doing to yourself.

You are digging an early grave.

Your heart can only beat so fast for so long.

Your brain can only take so much.

You can only take so much.

Your soul will die sooner than your body.

If you let me explain, the facts you would hyperventilate.

You would panic if I told you.

So, I have decided to let you go.

I cannot force you to see or to hear.

Part of living is seeing,

but if you are surviving the only "seeing"

you are doing will only ever be

blank and empty.

You will remain vacant and

I can only pause you.

You have to decide if slowing down

could be just as fulfilling

as the wait

for the crash and then burn.