It wasn’t To be or not to be or If

But it meant a lot to me

To be in front of the school confident and smiling

All I had to do was a bit of Canon in D on the piano

I play it everyday - my fingers know the notes, the rhythm, the softness

I can see the sounds in my head and feel them

But not today

Today my hands are stiff

My mouth is dry and my mind a blank

Mrs Potts gives me a reassuring smile

It doesn’t work

I choke

The first tear falls

And I wish I were dead