her brown hair in a drooping, tangled ponytail.
a black, semi-transparent tear rolls off her face
and onto her ap government study guide.

she looks up and glances around her.
biology papers.
geometry papers.
the book she has to read for English.
blue, red and purple pens scattered all over.

everything in her life seemed to be going downhill.
dropping grades.
her best friend literally becoming famous.
her boyfriend hopefully telling the truth when he says he loves her.
and the thought of the two people she loved, loving each other.
she leans back and closes her eyes
hoping to leave her body and venture to an unearthly place.
she didn’t want to be here anymore.
she thinks about the quiz she took in health class.
it told her she was mentally unstable…
she was the only one that got that result.

she rubbed her eyes, dragging wet mascara and eyeliner down her pale cheeks.
her iphone vibrated.
she reached across the bed and picked it up.
through the rubble of instagram and twitter notifications,
she sees the message

from Him.

no, not her boyfriend.
jeremiah 29:11.
“for I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

she puts the phone down,
recollects herself,
and looks at her paper,
pushing all other thoughts to the back of her brain.

there is hope in the world
even in your darkest moments.
sometimes we have to hit rock-bottom
before we truly discover it.
whatever your hope is,
let it drive you to be the most inspiring
version of yourself.