Luis Mercado: A Short Story

“No matter how difficult life gets you should never under any circumstances attempt to kill yourself.” These were the words my older brother, Mario said to me when I was sixteen years old. At this age, I felt like Luis Mercado, everything was changing for me. At the time my classes were difficult for me, I wasn't fitting in anywhere, I was always extremely sad inside and I didn’t feel like I had a place in this world. FACT: High School was nothing like High School Musical. Though I never attempted suicide, I did have thoughts of doing it, these thoughts lingered in my head for about two in a half years. I felt alone, like Luis I dressed differently, but acted “normal.” I was the same Tatiana as always. Many teachers did not notice this change because I didnt show such symptoms like Luis did. Luis Mercado and many other children who are suicidal show signs of sadness, signs of them no longer caring and of course cuts on their wrists.
After about a year and a half later I was finally able to open up to him about my thoughts and feelings. Being the awesome older brother that he is, he comforted me and told me that life is about ups and downs and that things will not always be perfect. And to appreciate the lovely life God has given me. He asked me to write a list of the things that made me think about leaving this planet, while he wrote a list of reasons why that make me a great person. We read each other's lists and of course I cried, it was then I realized that as much as I feel like I don't belong here I cannot leave. After this conversation with my brother, I slowly started to accept the fact that i am wanted here on