Red Hoodie

He comes to school with bloodshot eyes and his clothes from yesterday 
And the day before, and the day before that 
He lays his head down, to hopefully get a few minutes of sleep 
Because this classroom is his safe place 
When I see his eyes, they’re the most beautiful I’ve ever seen 
But they’re pleading for help 
The day I met him, I could feel the pain radiating off of him 
When I ask, he wears happiness as a mask 
But that mask is fading 
The bruises are getting darker, and he’s too weak to hide them 
That Friday he wasn’t at school 
When I saw his empty desk, I felt everything and nothing all at the same time 
Speeding to his house, praying for a miracle 
I see his red hoodie 
My eyes are blurred with tears, I lose control 
Adrenaline is shooting throughout me 
And time slows to a screeching halt 
I can feel my leg being twisted unnaturally, but I can’t breathe 
The last thing I remember is the smell of gasoline 
And that damned red hoodie