Hunger. | Teen Ink

Hunger.

June 15, 2024
By ilymitzki BRONZE, Rochester, New York
ilymitzki BRONZE, Rochester, New York
1 article 0 photos 0 comments

Favorite Quote:
"No matter who I'm in love with, you're my only hero, Nana." - Nana Komatsu.


My friend told me she is hungry. 

That her stomach is clawing in on itself.

That she feels like vomiting whenever she enters the lunch room. 

That her stomach is grumbling like her 

Words that stutter when she tells me

“Oh I do… I do not want to eat lunch today.”

The beans on her full plate are shaped like my eyes

When I have to explain to her that

"You need to eat to survive

That you need to listen to me. 

That I’ve went through this too, 

And that you need help.”

But she doesn’t listen. 

My friend thinks she is ugly— that she is Medusa herself.

She thinks that if the lunch ladies look at her,

She will turn them into stone. 

She believes that the only way to fix that ugliness is to starve,

To skip lunch, breakfast and dinner, 

And do it all again tomorrow.

That she needs to dine on her own spit like it’s a 

Five course meal with wine on the side

Instead of eating lunch.

Her hunger breathes hungry.

Until it sees that nothing is worthy enough to satisfy the emptiness.

But my friend told me that she was still hungry. 

And I don’t know what to do.


The author's comments:

Hi! My name is Sel Berry. I am currently a freshmen at School of the Arts in New York.

Writing has always sparked my interest since I was a young girl, along with drawing and music. As I am in high school, I hope that I can write stories and poems for people to enjoy and feel aligned with. Later in life, I hope to pursue Nursing School or High School Teaching!


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