Disclaimer: Klasky Csupo owns the poem.

He chose to walk alone.

Though others wondered why.

Travis Strong walked aimlessly down the pier. No one was with him, just the way he liked it. The moon in the sky was full and bright, illuminating the clouds surrounding it. The once black sky was a navy blue with a touch of a lighter shade from the many stars. Clouds were scattered, not covering one single star, as if they knew that's all Travis wanted: to look up at the stars. As he walked, his head was held up, his gaze glued to the night sky.

Refused to look before him,

Kept eyes cast upwards,

Towards the sky.

He didn't have companions.

No need for earthly things.

Travis had been scaring his friends lately. He didn't eat lunch with them, he sat far from them in class, he even gave Robbie the responsibility of keeping the tech booth intact when he didn't show up at RFR. Which always ended up starting 5-10 minutes late for a few days; Travis never warned his friends about not showing up. Robbie finally figured he wasn't showing, so they always started the show without him. This had been going on for about two weeks, but neither Robbie nor Ray thought anything of it. For Lily, however, this scared the shit out of her.

Only wanted freedom,

From what he felt were puppet strings.

At home, things were no easier. Lately his parents actually started enforcing rules. Travis felt like he didn't have a say in his life anymore. Home at 9, in bed by 10. Must let the guardians know where he is at all times. Not like that was the only problem; just with his parents was about .2% of why he was being distant. For the first time in his life, Travis actually thought about leaving it all behind.

He longed to be a bird.

That he might fly away.

Travis bent down and grabbed a rock. He sped up his pace and as he neared the edge of the pier he spoke to himself. "Why me? Why now? Why does everything always happen to ME?" As Travis shut himself up, he threw the rock as hard has he could with a yell, and watched as it sailed through the air. His breathing was slow and heavy, and he continued walking when the rock landed and broke the reflection of the moon. He felt like the rock. Breaking through everything, causing ripples to take everything apart. Falling, deeper, fish scattering as he fell lower. His friends being the fish, having no idea what was happening, not wanting to help him.

He pitied every blade of grass

For planted they would stay.

He longed to be a flame.

That brightly danced alone.

Felt jealous of the steam

That made the air its only home.

Some say he wished too hard.

Some say he wished too long.

But we awoke one autumn day

To find that he was gone.

That morning, Travis wasn't at school. Lily had first period with him, and even though she walked into the classroom 5 minutes late, Travis' seat remained vacant. All through the day, Ray and Robbie shared classes with him. Physics? Gone. English? Not there. Lunch? Ray thought he was outside.

The trees, they say, stood witness.

The sky refused to tell.

But someone who had seen it

Said the story played out well.

The rock sunk lower, and Travis neared the edge of the pier. The lake was unwillingly deep.

He spread his arms out wide.

Travis stopped at the edge of the moist wood. The toes of his shoes were just over the edge, and the sky was becoming brighter.

Breathed in the break of dawn.

Travis took a deep breath, closed his eyes...

He just let go of all he held...


And then he was gone.