Disclaimer: I don't own The Secret Garden


Collin stared up at the ceiling. His life was not going well. He had just gotten into a major fight with his father ending by being disciplined. Mary was away for a long journey. He was starting to not feel right again.


Sometimes life throws you down
You don't know where you are
You feel like you are so blind
You wouldn't see a shooting star


"You think it's so simple," Collin spoke out loud, "But it's not. NONE OF THIS IS SIMPLE! NONE OF THIS IS FAIR. None of this makes any sense. I know it should but it doesn't."


Nobody's perfect
But love compensates
Love is patient
It always waits


Collin had enough. He was tired of the pain. He was tired of the emptiness. It was time for him to take matters into his own hands. It was time for him to take his life.


You're never alone
You're never too far away
The sunshine will come out
The sky will no longer be gray


Collin got up and paced the room. What else could he do? His life was miserable. He was angry and bitter and it seemed everyone he loved was clueless. They thought he was just being his old self.


Collin stood at his writing desk. He put quill to paper and began to compose a suicide letter. It was a letter he put his heart into. He wanted anyone who read it to understand they were not to blame.

Dear Father, he wrote, "I have decided to kill myself. My life is no longer worth living. Please don't blame yourself. It is not your fault. How could you possibly have known the emptiness I feel inside?

He finished his suicide letter. Little did he know his mother was watching him. It wasn't his time to go. Something needed to change. Lily was ready to intervene.

Collin had decided he would hang himself. It was quick and easy. Soon he would be gone. He would be in a better place. The pain would be gone.


"Archie," Lily said, "You must come to Collin's room."
Archie didn't question her. Instead he came quickly to Collin's room. Collin was already hanging the rope to hang himself.

"COLLIN!; WHAT ARE YOU DOING," Archibald exclaimed.

"Father you weren't supposed to come in right now," Collin said.

"Well I'm certainly glad I did," Archie said, "What on earth are you doing?"
Wordlessly Collin handed Archibald the note. He read it his eyes growing wide. He spoke in a gentle tone.

"Son why would you want to kill yourself," he asked.
Collin broke down into tears. Archibald quickly reached out and held him. It took several minutes before Collin calmed down.

"Is this because of what happened this afternoon," Archibald asked.

"That's only part of it father," Collin said, "I've been miserable for so long. Besides you're better off without me."

"Collin that is not true," Archie said, "I love you. I had no idea you were going through all that. Why didn't you tell me?"

Archie and Collin talked all through the night. In the end Collin decided his life was worth living. Archibald insisted Collin seek therapy. It took a long time but Collin did get better. They both learned a valuable lesson.