Essay by Lynssy Davis, Madison, Alabama

1st place National 2004

Unknown Pain

Kim is a typical beauty queen. Through the eyes of spectators, she has a perfect life. She is captain of the basketball team, president of student government, and an honor roll student. She loves watching old movies at the park and always is the first to answer any question in class. She is bold, but never rude. When she walks, she glides with elegance and confidence. She dreams of having an important job; on the top of her list is becoming the spokesperson of the WNBA. Everyone loves her and wants to be her friend. However, she holds a deep secret. A secret that is full of pain and sorrow. No one knows how she dries her eyes every day before she comes to school. No one watches her as she covers the bruises with make up. No one hears her cry out in the middle of the night. But what if just one person knew why she cried?

In the beginning, she comes up to you and says, “Hello.” With only a simple word, she steals your soul and like all the others, you are under her spell. But unlike the others, she connects with you in a way she has never before connected with anyone. You spend time together and get to know each other. Then before you know it, you are best friends. One day while at the park watching an old movie, you notice a partially covered bruise on her arm. You ask her about it, and her face turns pale while the fire in her eyes die down. She pulls you away from the crowd and tells you in a hesitant voice that her father hit her, but it was not a big deal. She makes you promise not to tell. Inside you want to scream and run for help, but not wanting to lose her trust, you nod your head and you both return to the movie. In the back of your head you think “How could this happen? ” You do not know whether to tell or not.

Days turn into weeks and weeks turn into months. You have not brought the topic of her bruises up again. Word spreads around the school that Kim has quit the basketball team. Then she quits student government. Her grades slowly drop, and her voice is only a ghost in the halls. Her presence is missed by the movies in the parks. She avoids contact with other and walks swiftly, making eye contact only with the floor. You spot bruises on her, but not like the ones in the park. Theses are bigger and more visible. Only you know what has happened. Only you can hear her soul cry out for help while her flesh tries to cover the screams. Later that day you decide to talk to the counselor. While in her office you tell her about the day at the park and how you think the abuse has progressed. She writes everything down, thanks you, and then sends you out. Never once do you hear about what happened once you left the counselor ’s office.

Over time, you notice Kim back on the team. She graduates as valedictorian. It is not often that a movie is playing in the park without her. She tells you how she received an internship from the WNBA as a representative. One day you find a thank you letter from Kim on your doorstep. In the letter, she stated that she had thoughts of suicide. If the counselor had not of gotten her help more than likely she would have proceeded with them. What if the counselor would not of known? What if you would not have told her? Who would of helped her? Who would of kept Kim alive?

In short, it takes a friend to keep a secret. However, it takes a true friend to tell when a friend needs help. In most cases, when a friend tells you a painful secret, it is a cry for help. Like when a baby needs a nap, it cries and cries until you put it to sleep. A friend is the same way. Sometimes you have to upset a friend in order to do the best thing. Having to deal with animosity from a friend better than attending a friend’s funeral when it could have been avoided.