"He whispered to me, 'I will listen' so I told him, I told him my secrets. I told him my pain. I told him the story that would befriend hell. I told him my life. I gave him all of me. I gave him secrets he said he could keep. I trusted him with everything. It looked as if I had nothing, and he had everything. I thought he was everything I needed. Though, he must've thought, the opposite, because he soon started selling my stories. He started selling my secrets. He was publishing my life, as if it was a comedy. My secrets became jokes, my stories were dumb. He was selling my stuff, as though I was his property, and in a way, I was. He gave me away, for some pocket change. Then he left. He left me. No hug. No goodbye. He left me. Left me with nothing. ¨

The crowd roars with applause. I take in the scenery for a mere second before walking off the unfamiliar, auditorium stage. While walking backstage, I get flooded with a storm of people. Most of the people are on the poetry team. So, it's surprising that I'm hearing congrats from these people. Just a few minutes ago, most people were pissed that they didn't get the finalist spot. I even tried giving my spot away, but our poetry coach, Ms. Kalz insisted that I had to do the final poetry slam.

I smile and return a thanks to the people who congratulated me and continue walking. I don't really know where I am going. I look at my feet as I walk. One step, another step, then another, after another. I find myself outside. One step, after another. Trotting on the sidewalk. It's amazing how much people loved my poem. It's a terrible story. It's weird how people love other people's pain.

Before I know it, I circled back to our competitors school. They should be about done with the competition. I walk back in to find a panicked Ms. Kalz running up to me.

“Where were you?”

“I was walking outside.”

“There announcing the winner right now.”

“Oh? They have already decided?”

“Enough chitchat, go sit out in the auditorium.”

I push past the swarm of kids in the halls. The auditorium doors are giant heavy metal doors. I struggle to open them. I finally manage to squeeze through the door with only a few strange glances. I stand leaning up against the wall next to the grey doors. I cross my arms and stare at the stage. There is a guy up there talking about how he won his school poetry competition last year, and how he became famous and a bunch of crap. Though, he does look familiar.

“Well, now I have the approval of the judges to say the winner of tonight's competition. Drum roll please!”

The crowd of people start stomping their feet.

“This year's national poetry winner is.”

He paused for a few seconds.

“Iris Clarity with the Westland High School! ”

It's takes me a second to realize he just shouted my name. That was the last thing I have ever guessed would happen.

“Come on up here Iris!¨ The man hollers into the crowed with a wave of his hand.

I feel my face burn up. Why did I get chosen. I look around as if asking for help but nobody is around to save me. I stare at my feet. One step, another step. Trying to drown out the cheering of me walking down the aisle. The next thing I know I'm walking up the stairs on the stage.

“Let’s hear it again for Iris!”

I'm standing on the stage, I look around, the world is screaming in my ears. The audience turns into a percussion line, thundering, and booming, for a sad poem.

“Thank you I say to the man on the stage.”

He turns his head closer to my ear. “Don't thank me. You did this, You deserved this.” He whispers into the side of my head.

With a quick yet swift move her turned his head back towards the stage. "Now, Iris here has just won the nationals youth poetry competition. So she deserves something right?"

The crowd, of what I now notice is full of older teens, starts to scream and clap. Its hard to wrap my head around the fact that they are cheering for me. They all look so happy.

"Okay! Now , Iris, you have won a complete scholarship to the New York school of art! Congratulations!”

What?! What just happened. I was never aware of a scholarship. I can't tell if I'm happy or scared. Maybe it’s a mixture of both.

The announcer next to me starts speaking again. Though, I only here jumbled noises. My life is going to be allot different. I can actually get away from my town. I can leave. I can free.

But my brother can't.