Worth Fighting For

When I was in the eighth grade I was clinically depressed. My mother didn't believe in using medication to help things that should be natural, so I was on my own. Leading up to the semester that changed the way I look at the world.

The first week back from Christmas break in my eighth grade year was when it all started. I didn't want to do anything. I didn't see happiness anywhere I looked. I felt as if I was falling in a dark abyss that never seemed to end. No one noticed really until it got out of control. I never slept, never ate, and I never interacted with anybody. By this time all things seemed hopeless to me.

By the time my mother realized what was going on with me it was almost too late. I was numb, nothing seemed worth it anymore, and I just wanted to die. So I said, "Why not?" My parents still don't know about that last part, but I have a feeling my brother knew. My parents only noticed my loss of appetite and my loss of interest in things I used to love. My mother took me to the doctor and he told my mom to watch out for depression veering its ugly tentacle towards my mind. My mother, being the Southern Baptist she was raised to be, told me that I just had to read my bible and pray even more. I tried, I really did, but it just didn't do the trick. In fact, my depression got worse over time.

By the time spring break was near, my attempts to ease the numbness were getting hard to hide. I'm confident that my brother had an idea of what was going on because during this time he didn't insult me or tease me like he used to. My best friend knew, and she knew that I knew about her knowing. Finally she decided I couldn't fight it by myself and that my mother wasn't going to help any. So she started her plan to get me out of my dark cloud.

Every time she greeted me she would compliment me, then she'd talk about plans for later in the week or something of that sorts, and she'd invite me to them every time. She'd make sure I was getting involved with people and making new friends. I thank her every day for what she's done for me.