Don't ever think you're alone in this world.

Hi. It's me again for another simple fact of life. If you're wondering who that is above, that's me. I'm just a 17 year-old from Colorado who's giving you your daily dose of life. I thought it was time to show my face instead of hiding it in the shadows.

Today I will talk about something that seems to be a no-brainer. However, this no-brainer is more true than water is wet. No matter what happens in your life, You will always have someone there for you. If you all don't mind, I would like to tell a life story as an example of this:

For many years I was a subject of bullying. I'm not talking about name calling or teasing. I'm talking about me getting physically bullied, having people throw me into walls and ditches. I used to have things thrown at me too. I had some really bad bruises from the times that they would throw rocks at me, and I still have scars on my arm from when I got hit with a broken glass bottle.

I was mainly bullied because I was different. I had 3 strikes against me where they were concerned, and it made me an easy target. 

Strike 1: I'm small. 

Strike 2: I have a low-functioning level of autism.

Strike 3: I'm bisexual, or to put it in layman's terms, I "go both ways".

This continued until 7th grade. The problem with the whole situation was not that I was sick of being bullied, but the fact I didn't have a friend to help me. It had a psychological impact on me. At one point I tried to stand up for myself, and started fighting. It got me nowhere, and I got suspended for 3 days after getting into a fight at school.

When I came back after the 3 days, I had hit rock bottom. I was spiraling into a severe state of depression, I looked like I hadn't slept in over a week, and I didn't even have one friend. Not one. This was a moment that I've kept under wraps until now. This was hitting me so hard, I basically said "fuck the world, fuck life, and fuck my existence". That was when I was seriously thinking about committing suicide. My plan was to go into the bathroom at school, and hang myself on a coat hanger on one of the stall doors.

I remember the day well. The date was Thursday, October 29th, 2009. It was the last warm day in October. It was after lunch, and I was walking to the bathroom, thinking about how much the world wouldn't miss me and thinking of all the people who I thought didn't give a fuck about me at the time. As I put my hand on the door, There was this friendly voice. I didn't see who it was, but I just happened to hear "Hi Mario. How the heck are you?"

I immediately turned my head to see who it was. I saw this girl. She had brown hair, was about my height, and I could swear there was a light somewhere that was shining on her. She introduced herself to me. Her name was Crysta Pfeffer, and she happened to be in my gym class, which was strange because I never noticed her. I remember her asking me what was wrong, because she must've seen the look on my face and took notice. I told her I was being bullied and beaten up and I didn't know what to do or who to go to for help. I also told her that I felt vulnerable because I didn't have a friend. She seemed to really care about my situation. She said "Don't think that way". I asked why, and she said "Because I'll be your friend". She explained to me that no one should go through a problem alone, and that someone should always help them. The most important thing she told me that day was "Don't ever think you're alone in this world". That's why I titled this post with those exact words. After she left to go to class. I thought to myself, "Did that really just happen? Did someone just speak to me in a friendly tone? Could this be the friend that I hoped for, cried for, and had longed so dearly for to come into my life?" I changed my mind on suicide and went to class, thinking about the girl who would eventually be my first ever friend. Needless to say, she not only changed my life, but she saved it as well.

In gym class, I got to talk to her a little, and I felt happier knowing someone was so kind as to have a friendly conversation with me. When 7th grade ended, I had one last chat with her. It was the second-to-last day, and I was in my computer class doing stuff. She walked in and just struck up a conversation. Over the summer I thought about her a lot, and in 8th grade, I guess you can say I developed a crush on her. She was much nicer as I got to know her, and she made me feel happy like no one else could. She would tend to give me a high five in the hallway, and when a holiday came around, she would be there waiting for me with a handful of candy. At that point, having a crush on her was an understatement. I straight-up fell in love with her. However, I was always too nervous to ask her out. When I finally got my courage up to do so, it was too late. It was sad, even though I always felt happy for her because she found someone. I tried for 4 more years, but time and time again, I foolishly let the door close. Even though we were never in a relationship, she still made me feel like the happiest man alive. Not only that, but I've given her the honor of being my older sister, because I  believe that my friends are like family.

That's Crysta on the left, the one who saved and changed my life.

What I'm trying to get at is, no matter how bad a situation can be, there's always hope. Hope in the form of both a friend, and not thinking you're alone. A true friend will always be there when you need them most, and they will remain loyal no matter what, and if you feel like you're alone, don't think that. Find someone to talk to. Who knows? They might end up saving you. And if it just so happens that you're like me, someone who was saved from suicide, then you know this as well as I. Like Crysta said to me on that fateful October day in 2009: Don't ever think you're alone in this world.