There are many stories on the internet. {(live: 2s)[ (transition: "dissolve")[ [[This one is mine.]] ] (stop:) ]}The drive is boring. Monotonous. I play some music to pass the time. I can still feel the sleep clinging to my eyes. I sip my coffee to push away the devils that make my eyelids slip. {(live: 3s)[ (transition: "dissolve")[I get to work five minutes late. Nobody says anything, but my mind screams. I used to be the person who loved to be fifteen minutes early. Prided myself about it.] (stop:) ]} {(live: 6s)[ (transition: "dissolve")[ [[But I suppose I'm just slipping.]] ] (stop:) ]}I started by waking up. It's usually the beginning to every story. Well, most stories. {(live: 3s)[ (transition: "dissolve")[ I went through my morning routine. Coffee. Loaded up the car and [[headed to the office.]] ] (stop:) ]}I sit down at my desk. All of the things I taught my coworkers must have went over their heads again. Or they just want me to do their job. {(live: 3s)[ (transition: "dissolve")[My therapist tells me I can't think that way.] (stop:) ]} {(live: 5s)[ (transition: "dissolve")[There's good in every person. Even if it's hard to believe.] (stop:) ]} {(live: 7s)[ (transition: "dissolve")[I plug myself into my work to occupy my mind. My eyelids keep drooping.] (stop:) ]} {(live: 9s)[ (transition: "dissolve")[ [[I wish I could get a good night's sleep]] ] (stop:) ]}"Are you fucking serious?" {(live: 2s)[ (transition: "dissolve")[The terse tone and coarse language makes me leap out of my skin. I spin in my chair to find my supervisor behind me. The lines on his jaw are drawn taut and his eyes bore into my soul.] (stop:) ]} {(live: 4s)[ (transition: "dissolve")["Are you asleep again?" he growls.] (stop:) ]} {(live: 6s)[ (transition: "dissolve")["I. I'm sorry. I-"] (stop:) ]} {(live: 8s)[ (transition: "dissolve")["I don't fucking care. Boss might like you, but you're why we're behind."] (stop:) ]} {(live: 10s)[ (transition: "dissolve")[I open my mouth, but words don't come out. [[I try to defend myself]] ] (stop:) ]}{(live: 2s)[ (transition: "dissolve")[ [[He walks away, because nothing I do or say matters.]] ] (stop:) ]}{(live: 2s)[ (transition: "dissolve")[I turn in my seat and found that I was sleeping for three hours. It's time for lunch.] (stop:) ]} {(live: 4s)[ (transition: "dissolve")[It's hard to find a reason to keep my mood up. At least I made a good lunch for today.] (stop:) ]} {(live: 6s)[ (transition: "dissolve")[ [[If only I remembered to grab it this morning.]] ] (stop:) ]}I know it's bad for me. I know my clothes are tightening. {(live: 2s)[ (transition: "dissolve")[But maybe going somewhere that I like would be good for me. Some chinese or italian.] (stop:) ]} {(live: 4s)[ (transition: "dissolve")[ [[I reach into my work drawer to take my pre-lunch pills.]] ] (stop:) ]}Rather, I would. But I took the last one on Friday. My therapist will be so pissed that I forgot to refill again. {(live: 2s)[ (transition: "dissolve")[I can only do so much. I can't beat myself up for it.] (stop:) ]} {(live: 4s)[ (transition: "dissolve")[I leave the office.] (stop:) ]} {(live: 6s)[ (transition: "dissolve")[ [[I step to the crosswalk]] ] (stop:) ]}The cars pass by at blazing speed. Everyone speeds at this intersection. That's what I get for working downtown. The air is freezing. I put the hood up on my coat, trying to shield myself from the cold. {(live: 2s)[ (transition: "dissolve")[ [[But I can't shield myself from words]] ] (stop:) ]}"He fell asleep again," the familiar upset voice says. {(live: 2s)[ (transition: "dissolve")["Again?" groans another voice. "Don't worry, the layoffs are coming."] (stop:) ]} {(live: 4s)[ (transition: "dissolve")["Yeah, I know. I just ran the report. At least they won't be a problem for long."] (stop:) ]} {(live: 6s)[ (transition: "dissolve")[ [[I close my eyes, but the voices in my head start to whisper.]] ] (stop:) ]}//You have nothing left.// {(live: 2s)[ (transition: "dissolve")[//Why do you even try?//] (stop:) ]} {(live: 4s)[ (transition: "dissolve")['No.' I tell myself. 'Everything will be okay.'] (stop:) ]} {(live: 6s)[ (transition: "dissolve")[//You know you don't believe that. Not really//] (stop:) ]} {(live: 8s)[ (transition: "dissolve")[ [[My breathing quickens.]] ] (stop:) ]}{(live: 1s)[ (transition: "dissolve")[The cars pass by in a blur.] (stop:) ]} {(live: 2s)[ (transition: "dissolve")[I can't feel anything anymore. The frost buries its way through my coat into my veins. My heart feels like it stops. Gravity gives up. My limbs give up.] (stop:) ]} {(live: 4s)[ (transition: "dissolve")[There's only a few more seconds until the walk sign turns. ] (stop:) ]} {(live: 6s)[ (transition: "dissolve")[ [[I could wait just a few more seconds.]] ] (stop:) ]} {(live: 6s)[ (transition: "dissolve")[ [[Or I don't have to wait anymore.]] ] (stop:) ]}But {(live: 3s)[ (transition: "dissolve")[Don't You Remember?] (stop:) ]} {(live: 6s)[ (transition: "dissolve")[This is my [[story.]] ] (stop:) ]}{(live: 1s)[ (transition: "dissolve")[I just couldn't anymore.] (stop:) ]} {(live: 3s)[ (transition: "dissolve")[I felt finally free.] (stop:) ]} {(live: 5s)[ (transition: "dissolve")[Except it wasn't the end of my [[story.]] ] (stop:) ]}I remember waking up in the hospital. And I didn't hate myself for losing my job. {(live: 2s)[ (transition: "dissolve")[I didn't hate myself for being weak enough to do something so stupid.] (stop:) ]} {(live: 4s)[ (transition: "dissolve")[I didn't hate myself for racking up thousands of medical bills.] (stop:) ]} {(live: 6s)[ (transition: "dissolve")[ [[I hated myself...]] ] (stop:) ]}{(live: 3s)[ (transition: "dissolve")[ [[Because I couldn't even get this right.]] ] (stop:) ]}Thank you for playing "My Story" We can all help prevent suicide. The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals. 1-800-273-8255