The sickening sound of bullets blasting my classmates haunts me,

the disturbing images of piles of children lifelessly laying on the floor is my reoccurring nightmare. 

The memories of my best friend whose only wish was to return home from school sadden me, 

it slowly breaks me down.

Expressing my pain to strangers, 

being exploited on television, 

contemplating whether I want to return to high school,

it slowly breaks me down. 

My anger is directed towards the demonic school shooter who snatched my best friend's life, 

my sadness is directed towards the families who were forced to bury their children, 

my fear lies within the next school I attend, 

it slowly breaks me down. 

The traumatizing thought of my innocent best friend desperately clinging onto her last few breaths of life will forever occupy my thoughts, 

I just want my normal life back. 

My name is Samantha Grady, and I survived the school shooting that devastated the world.