From darkness to dawn

In the repressive stillness of the air,

A lone figure stands, a statue, on the bridge's edge.

Unwavered, unfazed, unyielding,

With a tempest brewing in his mind, 

As the wind howls with a mournful cry,

And the rain falls in thick sheets. 

The fleeing sunlight dappled its final glow on the azure blue below,

Where the river cuts through a sea of emerald pines,

Rolling fields and towering peaks,

Disturbed only by the river's roar.

The sinking sun ignites the sky,

In fiery hues of orange, crimson, and purple.

Within his mind, a storm rages on.

Rivers of sorrow trickle from eyes of faded china blue,

And through the valleys of a youthful face.

With skin the colour of burnt caramel,

And a face a mask of anguish.

Cars pass but not one stops to

Help. 

“I never expected I would die alone. 

I am who I am, why should I change?

I'm weary of banging on the closet walls, pleading.

No one cares. 

All it takes is one weightless step, 

The river will wash me away.” 

“I’m too depressed to persist,

I’ll be forgotten in a year anyway. 

Life has been less than kind to me. 

One last breath exhaled,

Then this world is gone forever. 

Let it end.”

Then, brought to his knees, he wept. 

“Remember the days of laughter, 

Getting drunk with my friends. 

The world is vast,

Endless horizons wait for me.

Proudly I stand, for who I am,

I will keep on living.

For it is always darkest before dawn, 

when the sun is yet to rise.”

Your life matters. No matter how dark things seem right now, no matter the bleakness of your circumstances, no matter how dim your future might look, there is always a reason to carry on. Even if it doesn't seem like it, people care about you deeply. You will never be alone in your struggle and there is always a persistent possibility for a brighter future. Do not suffer in silence; reach out to a family member, a carer, a friend or anyone you are close to. The worst decision of your life would be to carry on without anyone else knowing your predicament. 

Suicide is never the answer. It may feel like the only way out of your pain but it is a permanent solution to temporary problems. It leaves behind a wake of devastation that reverberates through your family, friends and your local community; it leaves vicious scars on the people closest to you, which may never heal and haunt them with feelings of guilt and grief. Untreated mental health disorders often cause suicidal thoughts. They can be successfully treated and even eradicated by seeking help, and talking about your feelings, medication and therapy. Mental disorders are not a reflection of weakness and failure; if anything, it takes a large amount of strength to ask for help. 

Even if you do not struggle with suicidal thoughts or mental health conditions, please be more considerate of the things you say to people and the effect it may have on them. Mental health disorders can only be successfully eradicated through the kindness and thoughtfulness of others. 

Thank you for reading