Work Text:
"When has someone's point of view changed your perception?"
I stare down at the question, fiddling silently with my pen.
My mind races for an answer before I have to hand up my booklet to my teacher for marking.
I look up.
The people sitting in front of me chatter relentlessly,
their whispering and giggling and mucking around
plaguing my mind with thoughts of violent activities.
In my peripheral vision, I see
that the person sitting next to me feels the same way.
I witness a scowling look as they
rock back in forth in their chair,
hands covering their eyes to snuff out the
whispering, giggling, mucking around.
I suck in some air.
Focus.
I can't focus.
The other kid next to me appears to listen to music while they write.
Maybe I should do the same.
And that is what I do.
I take out my laptop.
I take out my headphones.
I open my latop.
I attempt to unlock my laptop with my password.
Incorrect Password
The password you entered is incorrect. Please try again.
I must have typed it in wrong. Silly me.
I try again.
Incorrect Password
The password you entered is incorrect. Please try again.
My teeth
grind
against each other in my mouth,
grating against my gums and
bruising my jaw.
I type in the password once more.
I breathe in,
out, then
Enter.
Incorrect Password
The password you entered is incorrect. Please try-
My already furrowed brows kit
together in frustration as
my balled
fists
raise
and-
No.
You're in a classroom.
Don't be bad.
Don't draw attention.
Be good.
Be calm.
Be stable.
Be good.
Be calm.
Be stable.
Be good.
Be calm.
Be...
"When has someone's point of view changed your perception?"
Be looking
down
at your work as you
write
e n d l e s s l y
on a piece of paper with printed words on it
about a subject that
never had and
never has and
never will concern you.
Be thinking about this lesson.
Be thinking about your next lesson.
Be thinking about the assignment due today.
Be thinking about the assignment due tomorrow.
Be thinking about the assignment due next week.
Be thinking about the work piling up on your desk.
Be thinking about the amount of times you've skipped homework and mindlessly scrolled through post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after post after-
Don't think about how you haven't slept properly in days.
Don't think about how you've eaten properly in days.
Don't think about all the people you've hurt.
Don't think about all the people you've pushed away.
Just think about your future.
The future in front of you.
Think about-
"When has someone's point of view changed your perspective?"