You Matter To Me

• Nandira Xavier, Grade 10
• Poetry
• 2020

This depression is like an endless river. My river is a million shades of grey, the same as old-fashioned photographs.
When there is only cold darkness and the space around your skin feels like a void, ride the river with no oars, take what comes to you and do your best.

Don't tell me I can knock these walls down if I try, I don't want to listen anymore.
When the walls are too thick to breach, stay strong, perhaps those walls are there to protect you. There is beauty for you ahead, just know that there is.

My mind is a constant poison. It is as if it could fill me with venom.
Let your thoughts be as a car on a good road, taking the hills and valleys just the same, heading into the far horizon your passions call you toward. You owe it to yourself to take control of the wheel.

I am an extinguished fire. Once I burned bright and I knew of happiness and light. Now my mind is dark, in these ashes there is nothing to even renew a spark.
The key to restoring the mind is to understand that love is the basic operating system of every human mind, which requires a ‘reboot.’ Real love is a long term solution, a cure.

You can keep your well intentioned words to yourself. They can't heal me and neither can your love.
We all need to know we are worthy of love, and I promise you that you are. Love is our birthright, an intrinsic part of our soul and what it means to be human.

But, why do you care about me so much?
Because your mental health matters, it matters to me, you matter to me.