“Grades are everything.”

A sentence

Preached since

The beginning.

That if I

Did not follow

Had consequences.

“Grades are everything.”

They are worth

The loss of

My social life.

The friends

Who ask me to leave

But I can’t

Because I have

An assignment due

At 11:59 P.M.

“Grades are everything.”

They are worth

The sleepless nights.

When the moon

Glowed overhead,

Luring me

So as to be 

Plagued by slumber.

“Grades are everything.”

They are worth

The ever growing bags,

Underneath my 

Glassy eyes.

Weighing me down,

Little by little.

Making me fall,

Out of 

Pure exhaustion.

“Grades are everything.”

They are worth

The panic attacks

That rob me of breath

Whenever I receive

Below a 90.

Successful in destroying

My aching chest.

And in causing

My suffering.

“Grades are everything.”

They are worth

The salty liquid

That flows down

My face.

That consume me,

Until I drown

In my own creation.

“Grades are everything.”

They are allowed to take

My mental health.

Creating a creature,

Who only gets 

Out of bed

For school.

“Grades are everything.”

They are worth

Me.

I am

My grades.

If I do

Not get 100,

I am

Not good enough.

Nothing is good enough.

Grades are worth my life.