Flashback time! This was inevitable, so I'm gonna get it out of the way. Hope you guys like this one!~

Alex was walking home from school, lost in the depths of his own mind. Damn, I don't remember physics being that hard.

He had just finished an "evaluation exam". Ever since the new government came into power, school had become a million times harder. They even gave out these stupid tests at the beginning of the school year so they could see how much you remembered from last year! It was a miracle that Alex had the grades he did. He was probably one of the best students in the country. He had Mr. Deltoid to thank for that. Not only was the man intelligent, but he was also the closest thing Alex had to an uncle. ...an uncle who had given him sexual advice since he hit puberty. A strange fellow, he was. Alex usually brushed it off as a joke. A sick joke, but a joke.

What? I'm already home. *giggle* I guess time flies when you're alone with nothing but your thoughts to keep you company~ Alex smiled to himself as he unlocked the front door. As soon as he set his bag on the floor, he locked the door and ran upstairs. When he got to his room, he immediately began to play Beethoven's 9th Symphony. But even his 'Lovely Ludwig Van' couldn't cheer him up. There was just something about today that made Alex feel so depressed. He didn't know why though. Maybe it was his lack of self confidence that was hurting him. He didn't have a good feeling about the test. Oh god, what if I failed? Pee and Em would hate me forever. Just the feeling of rejection is enough to kill me. It's something I've never known and I never want to experience. The thirteen year-old began to sob. He was hurting himself with these toxic thoughts that ran through his head. He was driving himself down a destructive path. SELF-destructive, if you will.

Alex was already picturing the worst case scenario: After failing the exam, he'd been abandoned on the streets. He patiently waited for death, but things only got worst. He was abducted and- oh god. It was a fate you would never wish upon your worst enemies.

Alex ran to the bathroom and threw up at the idea. Pull yourself together, DeLarge! That would never happen! ...or at least, I pray to God that doesn't. After calming down, he went back to his room and continued to cry for a little bit. How long? He lost track of time. It seemed like forever, though. These thoughts were consuming him. Alex could bear it no longer and wrote a small note. He then took it downstairs and pinned it to the refrigerator with a magnet. He grabbed a kitchen knife before heading back upstairs.

Phil had just gotten home when he heard Sheila crying in the kitchen. "Sheila? Are you alright, darling?!"

"Oh Phil." *sob* "Our baby.. He..."

"What? What happened to Alex?"

Sheila just handed him the note in response to his question. It read:

Dear Em and Pee,
I realized I'm too scared to know the feeling of failing you. I know deep inside, I failed the evaluation exam and I'm sorry. I just noticed, too, that I'm crying over failing a stupid government test. I guess I truly am that pathetic. I've recently been questioning my humanity. I don't feel like a person anymore. I feel like people only look at me as a 'genius' instead of me as a person.I'm sorry, but I can't continue living this lie. I love you both with all of my heart, but I have to do this. I'm ending it all at 7 PM tonight.
Love, your son, Alex

Phil looked at the clock as he held his hysterical wife.

6:58 PM

"Sheila, there's still hope! We have two minutes to save him!" He reassured her.

They quickly ran upstairs only to find the door to their son's room was locked.

"Alex, open this door now!" Phil demanded.

"I can't do that, Pee," Alex solemnly said.

"I'm getting into this room and that's final!"

*silence*

"Alex, please don't do this!" Sheila sobbed.

Phil decided he had no choice. He slammed into the door, causing it to bust open. There stood Alex, holding a knife to his wrist. His mother let out a bloodcurdling scream. His father stood there, absolutely shocked.

Alex felt guilty. His mother was horrified and his father seemed panicked. The guilt felt awful. He then dropped the knife and began to cry. "I'M SORRY. I'M SO SORRY." After he snapped out of it, he was rushed to the hospital.

The doctor ordered that Alex spend the night. His parents reluctantly agreed, but it'd be the only way to help their son. It hurt them to see him in such pain. All they could do was watch him in his hospital room, crying and pleading for death.

"GOD, WHY DON'T YOU JUST KILL ME NOW?! I'M NOT WORTH IT." This kept up for another fifteen minutes until Alex's voice wore out and he gave way to exhaustion. Thank God this all happened on a Friday night.

The next morning was hell, though. After he woke up and ate the breakfast the nurse had given him, he was taken to the hospital psychiatrist. After their talk, Alex was diagnosed with depression. When his parents heard, they were somewhat devastated. Why would their son be depressed? And then it hit them: it was the pressure. He was so young and they had been expecting so much out of him. On Monday, they informed Alex's teachers of the incident that occurred on Friday night. They'd have to be careful with him, knowing how fragile he truly was.

Was it his fragility that led him to his downfall..?