text: I was only about twelve or so when I noticed a new presence in my life. It was the kind of presence where you'd see it out of the corner of your eye, or when you look somewhere quick. It's like a dark shadow, but when you look to the spot, it's gone. I've heard of other people dealing with this before but never anyone near me. This dark figure hung around a lot, more often in winter at first but after the first three years of my new companion, it started hanging around year round, often in the dark. After the third winter with the figure hanging around, just barely out of sight, it started showing up more and more, not just during the night anymore but any time during the day, day after day. It wasn't until after that winter, when I was 14, did I finally meet someone who dealt with the same issue I had. His name was Michael, a popular kid who I don't think anyone had a problem with. He spoke to me about the figure often and to others, and it made me realize I wasn't alone. The figure kept getting more and more common with me, I kept it to myself for the most part. Then one day I get a call, "Mike's dead" the voice on the other line tells me, I struggle to respond and ask how, only to be told that he took his own life. I know Mike, that's not Mike I told myself, that's not him. The next few days the figure seems to leave me alone and grieve. Then day it came back, and I guess it didn't enjoy it's time gone because it was worse than ever, doing a dance just beyond my vision but I knew it was right there. Weeks pass and I was taunted by this figure worse and worse every day. Then days came and it didn't jump in and out of the edge of my vision, it was clear ahead of me, clear as day. That's when I lost control, I tied a rope I found that I had in a way I've practiced many times before, but this time was different, because it wasn't going to be untied, I looked the beast in the eyes as I wrapped the rope around my neck and here I was, being controlled, not by anyone else, but by something inside me, something I couldn't control. A cancer of the mind. I released my weight, and as I gasped my final breath I realized what this monster was for it's true form, which went by the name of depression.