Franchesca

Smile girl, frown girl,
Are you ignored?
You enter so quietly,
Closing the door.

Relax girl, breathe girl,
Maybe this time.
Someone must notice
You've done no crime.

Happy girl, sad girl,
On your way home.
As hard as you tried,
You're walking alone.

Pretty girl, lonely girl,
Where will you go?
Keep up that smile,
No-one will know.

Oh poor girl, sorry girl,
You're always watched.
But they all assume,
Nobody stops.

Written January 2007

In the four years that I've been at university, I've met a lot of people. There are also an awful lot of people whoI haven't met. In some cases though, I still know their names. Franchesca is a pretty girl on the course. She's had to retake a year somewhere down the line, and clearly isn't all that happy about it. In the first year, she was the pretty girl at the centre of attention, gossiping and chatting through lectures, and always first on everyone's list.

Recently, every time I see Franchesca, I see her alone. She walks to campus alone, she enters and leaves lectures alone. She makes an effort to speak to people and make friends. I've seen her chasing a couple of lads as well. For reasons entirely unknown to me, no-one really seems to notice. And so I see her walking home again, at the end of that lecture. I notice that her smile isn't entirely honest, and I notice the shadows that pass across her face.

I could be wrong. I hope I'm wrong. But if I'm not, someone will notice soon Franchesca. Hang on in there.