The Bathroom Knows My Secrets | Teen Ink

The Bathroom Knows My Secrets MAG

October 27, 2011
By CatBrooks SILVER, Wyckoff, New Jersey
CatBrooks SILVER, Wyckoff, New Jersey
9 articles 0 photos 2 comments

The bathroom knows my secrets;
All of those stolen candy bars,
their wrappers crumpled between tissues so Mom
will never know
that I took another, then another, then another.
At least, that's what I thought.

The bathroom keeps my secrets
as I hide in one of the stalls of the girl's restroom,
waiting, hating, hiding, crying,
until the teacher sends a classmate to retrieve me.
It is the second time this month,
but we will forget about that
and act as though it has not happened before.
Just like we will next month, or next week, or maybe even tomorrow.

The bathroom sees my secrets;
my disappointed, resentful glances at the mirror.
I'm convinced I look like they say I do:
the man, the ugly girl, the outcast.
I wish I could look like my other friends, like I want to.
I know I can't
But that won't stop me from trying again and again.

The bathroom hears my secrets;
when I scream at God, at myself, at whoever I
can blame
for that B on the last test I took.
Even though I did everything I could,
my best still isn't good enough – not for me, not for
my GPA, and especially not for those colleges I'm looking at.
But I'll wipe away my tears when my parents
come home.
I swore I wouldn't get worked up about my
grades anymore.

The bathroom understands my secrets.
It doesn't judge me as I escape to it during
fourth period
with too much work, too much pressure, and too
little time.
I can't handle school, extracurriculars, friends, or the mere idea of the future.
I can't handle anything anymore.
My friends think they understand. My parents can't
understand. My advisors want to understand.
But the bathroom understands everything.
The bathroom knows my secrets
because as time moves on, as I grow up, and as people come and go,
there will be new secrets.
He will forget, she will forget, they will forget, and
I will forget.
But the bathroom will always remember.

The bathroom will never tell me that I should have known better,
even if I should have.
It can never comment, laugh, judge, or criticize.
It can only comfort, shelter, and listen.
It is the best friend I will ever have.
You may never understand, but that is okay,
The bathroom always will.



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This article has 6 comments.


on Oct. 30 2011 at 5:01 am
ohmy gosh i love your piece, it's so true and the meaning behind these words crawl under my skin, keep writing i'll support you :)

Catiebugg GOLD said...
on Oct. 29 2011 at 5:50 pm
Catiebugg GOLD, Plainwell, Michigan
10 articles 0 photos 10 comments

Favorite Quote:
You can kill the dreamer, but not the dream.<br /> I am not crazy, my reality is just different than yours.<br /> True love stories never have an ending.

This is a very beautiful piece, I can relate to you. Keep writing. (:

on Oct. 29 2011 at 3:58 pm
RisingMomoM.R. SILVER, Georgetown, Texas
7 articles 0 photos 14 comments

Favorite Quote:
i think of experiences and images...as being stored in the rootcellar of my mind, hibernating in the dark in the dark until they are ready for stories.<br /> -Daniel Keyes

Amazing how ur words made such a beautiful piece. keep writing :) check out my writing tooo :)

Lahari GOLD said...
on Oct. 29 2011 at 11:50 am
Lahari GOLD, Edison, New Jersey
19 articles 0 photos 71 comments

Favorite Quote:
\\\\\\\&quot;Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That\\\\\\\&#039;s why its called the present.\\\\\\\&quot; <br /> &mdash; Eleanor Roosevelt<br /> <br /> \\\\\\\&quot;When life gives you lemons, make grape juice. Then sit back and watch as the world wonders how you did it.\\\\\\\&#039;

This is so fresh and unique. It’s a really different perspective. I love it! Your work is truly amazing!

on Oct. 28 2011 at 6:53 pm
pens-are-mightier-than-swords SILVER, Caledonia, Michigan
8 articles 0 photos 46 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;we often put up walls not to keep people out, but to see who cares enough to break them down&quot;<br /> ~Author Unknown

You definitely have a unique gift for writing poetry. Your perspective is different, refreshing, and totally relatable. I can't wait to read more of your work!

on Oct. 28 2011 at 8:07 am
RedFeather GOLD, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
12 articles 0 photos 155 comments

Favorite Quote:
Prose is like walking but poetry is like dancing.<br /> &mdash;Paul Valery, poet (1871 - 1945)

That's great. It's the thing to describe what so many people are feeling at school, but will never admit. Too many people are in similar situations- some go to the bathrooms for shelter, some write about it(in my opinion, the best choice), somego to their rooms, some listen to music, some (sadly and stupidly) turn to drugs, and some talk to the shadows.

Anyway, this is a great poem! it's deep and filled with untold emotions! Keep writing! (P.S. I would NEVER be able to talk to an advisor or psychichiatrist and such of any kind! They totally freak me out!) :)