What You Should Have In a Best Friend

8 Ways to Look at a Best Friend
By Lauren Hayes



A person you trust to tell when you’re doing well,
But not letting you get too ahead of yourself.

Someone who looks at you and says “Why am I friends with you?”
And then you do something absolutely ridiculous and they think to
Themselves… “Oh that’s why.”

A unique individual, in so many ways you’re different
But at the same time both of you are alike
Almost as if a mirror to one’s self.

They can read me
Like I was transparent
Can see past all the lies in my eyes
Trying to convince them that I’m okay or that I’m fine
They can see past all of that.

Someone you can become so angry with
Because you know they’ll forgive you for anything.

You have good days, bad days, and just okay days.
And all you want to do is run up to that someone and
Just spill everything to them, because they will listen.

They love you, for who you are
For every flaw and every mistake.
For every accomplishment and every great quality in you.

Someone who’s your dynamic duo

Your Emergency Exit
Lauren Hayes

To the ones who hide behind the smiles
To the ones who say I’m okay, when they’re miles from that,
To the ones who suffer blows to the head -
Physically: the ridges of the knuckles engraved into the face
Emotionally: curse after curse recorded permanently.
Sticks and stones may break my bones but words may never hurt me…
Yeah right, the words hurt the most.

To the ones who have been there -
Knees bent before the toilet, like a servant to a king,
Finger down the throat just one more time until
You’re satisfied.
To the ones who open the fridge -
Second think it -
Change their mind and shut the door.

To the men and women; teens and children; white or black:
There’s a way out.
You don’t have to hide.
You don’t have to hide anymore.
You don’t have to face this on your own.

He’s bigger and stronger than the worry, pain, and fear.
He’s the light in the darkness.
He’s the truth through all the lies.
He’s your strength when you’re weak.
He’s your way out,
Your comfort
Your friend who picks you up when you stumble -
Time after time, after time.

When you can’t seem to find your way out of the maze -
Filled with abuse, suicide, and violence -
He’s your emergency exit.

So before you kneel down to that king toilet,
Before you shut the door,
Before you pull the trigger or slice open your bare skin,
Before you take the words to your mind -
Give him a chance to help you.
The storm might not go away instantly,
But he will be by your side to see you through.