Mona Lisa

I was made to believe that I could have a genuine friend by my side,

But deep down, they hated me. They envied me. They despised me.

And I fell for the kind words and the care of their hugs. I was wrong, I was fooled, I was hurt both emotionally and physically. They liked what I liked but once I was involved they were annoyed.

Why? Why is it that you are harming me, Darkening the light of our friendship? Once another came in, I was irrelevant.

I became a stranger.

I pushed myself away because I wasn’t invited.

I realize now that they aren’t worth my tears, my pain.

I felt hurt, then the pain turned to anger. And now, I return the hate, I return the feelings given to me back to them. I will never be betrayed again. The end of my hope for another who did not care for me.

— Jaylien Washington '25, Art Therapy