This kind of reminds me of my middle school years and my sophomore and junior years of high school. All I was being was me, but, for whatever reason, that wasn't good enough and I was subject to ridicule. Even a childhood friend became part of the popular crowd and rejected me, too.

Ok, enough of that. This is a heartbreaking piece of prose. So, of course I sense the desperation and despair of sweet Scarlet, but, now that I'm a parent, I could feel myself getting frantic as her mother probably was, as I read this to the end.

I'm sure many young people feel this way. My advice is to keep living, be yourself and hang in there. I'm proof that it does get better.