Terri Fields

So, Anna, did you knowThat when you kill yourselfThose you say you love,They die too?

Life can be messy.No doubt, a lot of these kids are living proof.But in spite of their anxieties and their angers,At least- They Are trying to live.

I could always accept not being the prettiest or the smartestBecause I had the best of friends.A and A they called us.But, Anna, somehow, I failed you. And now I've lost the best part ofMe.

And the only answer I know isThat no child should give up on life.Math deals in absolutes.But life is the most absolute of all.

Somehow, I feel almost blinded myself.And I am forever left to wonderWhether telling you how truly specialYou were Might have made a difference.

Since September,I sat one seat behind Anna in algebra.Passed papers to her every day.Studied for tons of tests together.Though it often seemed impossible, Eventually,We always found the unknown for X.But not this time.This equationBounces against my brain.And sneers at all attempted answers.I know I'll re-examine the variables,And reanalyze the unknowns, maybe forever. ButIt won't matter.Because, Anna-I know I'll never figure out Y.Y you didn't want to live-And Y I never noticed.