Peaceandlove67 Article: Finding a Way to Cope Part 2

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posted by Peaceandlove67

In the months after Jim's untimely death, I remained very sad. Jim and I used to enjoy jogging together. I still enjoyed jogging, but it got lonely doing it alone. None of my other friends were interested in that. The bullying really picked up. My remaining friends would stand up for me, but that didn't stop the bullies from bullying me. Sometimes they would beat me. Many times, I would pretend I needed to use the restroom so that I could be alone to cry. One day, when I was sitting at home, I saw a pocket knife. I honestly don't know what I was thinking, if I was thinking at all, but I began making small cuts on my legs. Strangely enough, it made me forget about all my troubles for a brief period. I kept on doing it. One day, I went to school, and my friend, Chelsea, noticed that I was wearing pants. She said, "It's a pleasant day outside. Why are you wearing pants?" I said, "I just put something on. I didn't think about the weather at all." I then let out a sad sigh. She asked, "Are you okay?" I said, "I'm just fine." She said, "No, you're not." I rolled up my pants legs. She said, "Oh, my God! Aubrey, what happened?!" I said, "I fell while I was jogging." She said, "You're telling the truth, aren't you?" I said, "Chelsea, I don't lie to you." I felt so dirty, because I had lied to a friend for the first time in my life. If Jim had still been living, I could have told him about it. He would have understood. He was my best friend. However, I had only known Chelsea for a year, so I didn't trust her as much as I trusted Jim. That day, when I came home from school, my father asked, "Did you have a good day?" I said, "I guess so." He said, "You guess so?" He then noticed that I was wearing pants. He said, "You're wearing pants. Why is that?" I reluctantly showed him. He asked, "Did you fall?" I said, "Yeah, I fell." He asked, "Are you all right?" I said, "I'm fine. I'm okay." I lied again. I wasn't okay. I had not been okay since January, and it was early May. One day, when I was making another cut, my mother walked in on me. "Aubrey!" she cried. "What are you doing?!" I burst into tears. She asked, "What's going on?" I said, "Cutting myself is what's keeping me alive right now." She asked, "Why didn't you tell me about how you were feeling?" I said, "I thought you'd think I'm crazy." She hugged me and said, "I love you. You're not crazy." She began doing research on how to help me, and ways I could distract myself if I thought about cutting. I took an interest in music, and my father bought me a guitar. I started playing it, despite the fact that I never had lessons. It turned out that I had natural talent. I began writing a few songs, but there were days I still had to fight myself not to cut.

RetroRock64, ChiliPepperLuv and 1 other like this

80smusiclover1 I think I'm going to cry.

ChiliPepperLuv Poor Aubrey. No wonder she got into cutting herself. The last thing she needs is those bullies to abuse her.

Peaceandlove67 Bullies are so cruel.

80smusiclover1 I know, right.

Rubyrings Anyone who abuses someone who's already suffered a tragedy like that - abused physically or verbally - isn't human. I honestly don't blame Aubrey for cutting herself like that. I'm just glad someone noticed on time. I guess Aubrey would normally wear skirts or shorts on a nice day.

RetroRock64 I feel sorry for Aubrey. I sort of understand how she's feeling there.

Peaceandlove67 It's a really hard habit to break. I should know.

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Words Can't Describe Our Friendship Part V

posted by Peaceandlove67

Catherine's Point of View
Christmas Vacation was officially over, and we were back in school. Gavin and I were heading to our next class, and we saw someone being bullied. A group of kids punched a girl in the face, and she fell to the ground. Gavin said, "Come on, Catherine! Let's get those bullies away from her." I said, "I'm right behind you! I can't just stand and watch someone get bullied." We approached the bullies, and Gavin said, "Back off! I've got crutches, and I'm not afraid to use them!" The bullies walked away. I helped the girl to her feet and asked, "Are you okay?" She said, "Yeah....

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Words Can't Describe Our Friendship Part IV

posted by Peaceandlove67

Catherine's Point of View
A couple of months passed, and Gavin and I became really, really close, but one day, there was something in the air. Whatever it was, Gavin and I got into a horrible argument. I don't remember what we were arguing about, but we said some cruel things to each other. I dare not repeat them. I went home crying. Later, I decided to make up with Gavin. I went across the street to his home. His mother answered the door. I said, "I need to talk to Gavin. I want to make up with him." She said, "I'll tell him you're here." A few minutes later, she returned and said, "He's gone."...

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Words Can't Describe Our Friendship Part III

posted by Peaceandlove67

Catherine's Point of View
One October day, it had started out normally. Gavin and I had a really good day until the last class of the day. We had some free time at the end of the class. There was a girl calling me ugly and deformed. I was upset, but I tried not to show that she got to me. Gavin came up beside me and said, "Hey! Be nice to her!" The girl asked, "What are you gonna do? Boys can't hit girls." He said, "I know, but if they could, you'd be the first one I'd hit." She said, "But girls can hit boys." He said, "Go ahead! Hit me!" She punched him in the mouth, knocking out a tooth. The...

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Words Can't Describe Our Friendship Part II

posted by Peaceandlove67

Catherine's Point of View
One September day, I had an experience that would change my life. I noticed that some new neighbors were moving in across the street. I decided to greet my new neighbors, especially since there was a kid my age there. I said, "Hi, I'm Catherine. It's nice to meet you." He said, "Hi, I'm Gavin. It's nice to meet you, too." I said, "Nice accent you have there!" He said, "Thank you. I'm from Liverpool, England." I said, "Like the Beatles?!" He said, "Yeah. Like the Beatles." Seeing that we were both Beatles fans, I knew we would get along. Gavin seemed so friendly and...

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Words Can't Describe Our Friendship Part I

posted by Peaceandlove67

Catherine's Point of View
My childhood had a rocky start from day one. My mother was in poor health from the day she learned she was pregnant with me. Although I turned out to be healthy, my mother died in childbirth. Realizing his own mortality, my father named my aunt and uncle as legal guardians if something were to happen to him. My father and my aunt were siblings. One night, when I was three years old, my aunt was babysitting me, and my father never returned, for he was killed in a car accident. As a result, I ended up living with my aunt and uncle. They never had children, so I was basically...

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Four of Us Final Part

posted by Peaceandlove67

Some time passed, and the members of The Devil Wants Peace began to notice something. John was the only member who didn't have a girlfriend. He did have a girl who was his friend. Her name was Violet, and John had become really good friends with her. She occasionally visited him in the recording studio, (this is not a John and Yoko story, I promise). She admired his general confidence and superb leadership skills. John was very fond of Violet. Once, John got into a terrible argument with Allen. John told Violet about it, and she provided him comfort. She even said, "Work it out with Allen....

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Four of Us Part VII

posted by Peaceandlove67

After a brief hiatus, The Devil Wants Peace released another album. They went on another tour. One evening, they were signing autographs for some fans. Suddenly, it began to rain. Peter said, "I think we should seek shelter. I don't think our fans will want to come out in the rain for autographs." John said, "Good thinking, Peter. Let's go." The group began to run towards a nearby shelter. Thunder and lightning crashed around them. A bolt of lightning flashed close to them. Allen, Peter, and Stan met in the nearby shelter. Peter said, "That lightning flash was close. Is everyone all right?"...

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Four of Us Part VI

posted by Peaceandlove67

John's uncle, Bob, was always supportive of The Devil Wants Peace. Even as they were approaching the 2000's, and the albums kept coming, Uncle Bob supported his nephew no matter what. However, there was one day that would change John's perspective on life forever. One day, the members of The Devil Wants Peace were recording an album. They were in the process of recording their song, "The Unknown," which was written by John, Allen, and Peter. Uncle Bob had visited that day. Uncle Bob said, "John, I'm sorry to say this, but I really don't like the song." John said, "I don't understand." Uncle...

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Four of Us Part V

posted by Peaceandlove67

Shortly after releasing their new album, the members of The Devil Wants Peace got ready for their next tour. The group decided to visit with John's uncle, Bob, one day. He said, "John, I heard you were in a car accident a few weeks ago. Are you okay?" John said, "I'm fine now, Uncle Bob. It's all thanks to my band mates. I would have died out there if not for them." Uncle Bob asked, "How did you guys find him?" Allen said, "When he didn't show up to the recording studio and didn't answer the phone, we went to his cabin to see if he was okay. He wasn't there." Peter said, "That's right. As we...

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funny church signs 013

added by Peaceandlove67

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Four of Us Part IV

posted by Peaceandlove67

Because of a busy schedule, The Devil Wants Peace was unable to record another album until 1995. Things had calmed down by then. John was now living on his own, in the mountains of Redshore, in a cabin. One day, during the recording of their album, Out of the Dark Ages, John had agreed to write a song with Peter and Stan. They presented the first two verses of their song to him, and they asked him to come up with a chorus and a third verse. John said, "I'll see what I can do." He went home, and he began to write a chorus. When he finished, he was excited. He said to himself, "I can't wait to...

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Four of Us Part III

posted by Peaceandlove67

Later that year, John was asked to give an interview. He asked, "Do you want my band mates to come, too?" He was told "No, just you." He initially refused. The person on the other line reminded him that he was the front man. He said, "I don't care if I'm Jesus Christ himself. I'm no more important than my band mates." The person on the other line asked if he would come if he was allowed to bring his band mates along. He said, "We come together or not at all." During the interview, the band was asked how they all met. John said, "Peter, Allen, and I all met in high school." Allen said, "They...

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Four of Us Part II

posted by Peaceandlove67

A few days later, Lenny called the members of The Devil Wants Peace to a meeting. He said, "Boys, I've scheduled a tour for you." John asked, "When does it start?" Lenny said, "Ten days from now." John said, "That sounds good to me. What about you all?" Allen said, "That's fine with me." Peter said, "Me too." Stan said, "Me three." Lenny said, "Then, it's settled." They were all excited to start touring again. At one point during the tour, John spotted his mother. He was walking on the street with Peter at the time. "Hide me!" John shouted. Peter looked confused. "Hide you?" He said. John said,...

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Four of Us Part I

posted by Peaceandlove67

It was June 19, 1991. The rock band, The Devil Wants Peace, had just released their second album, Peace is the Way. Not only were they celebrating that occasion, they were also celebrating John Wilde's twentieth birthday. Allen, Peter, Stan, Ben, Lenny, and John's uncle, Bob were all there. Suddenly, the phone rang. John went into the other room to answer it. "Hello?" He answered. The voice said, "Happy Birthday, John." It was his mother. John said, "I know you want something, Mother. The last time you said that to me, I was eighteen." She said, "So, you're a famous rock star now." He said,...

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The Wilde Adventures Chapter XIV

posted by Peaceandlove67

Surviving Against the Odds
That night, I had a dream. John Lennon paid me another visit. He said, "John, I came to warn you that you're still in danger." I was confused. "Danger?" I said. "What are you talking about?" He said, "Pastor Thomas still wants you dead. You need your mates now more than ever." I said, "Okay." I woke up and was troubled. I had bunked with Stan that night. I heard him asking if I was all right, but I was fixated on my dream and couldn't respond. "John!" He shouted. I responded with "Huh?" He said, "I said, 'Are you all right?'" I said, "Yeah. I'm just fine. Why?" But...

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The Wilde Adventures Chapter XIII

posted by Peaceandlove67

The Interview
One day, we were asked to go to Devil's Garden for our first questions and answers interview. I was hesitant about that, because I was treated poorly in Devil's Garden. Peter asked, "Do you think we should do it?" I said, "I don't know. I'll have to think about it." I really didn't like the idea of facing my past. That night, I had a dream. John Lennon and my grandmother paid me a visit. We were walking in the forest behind Uncle Bob's house. I said, "John, Grandma, I don't know what to do. Should I go to Devil's Garden?" John said, "I think you should go. You have nothing to...

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The Wilde Adventures Chapter XII

posted by Peaceandlove67

On the Road
After the release of our debut album, In a Flash, we decided to start touring. We got Uncle Bob's friend, Lenny, to be our manager. When we did our first live show, it was exhilarating. I turned out to be the only one who ever performed in front of an audience, (if my mean school mates at the park in Devil's Garden counted). I wasn't sure who was more nervous, Peter or Stan. I told them, "If you want my advice, when you sing, focus on the people in the back. It should radiate from them to the people in the front row. If everybody's looking at you with a bored expression, either...

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The Wilde Adventures Chapter XI

posted by Peaceandlove67

Starting Out
After we formed our band, we decided on what to name the band. We finally settled on The Devil Wants Peace. It was ironic and shouted out to rock haters. We then decided to start recording our first album. Uncle Bob's friend, Ben, agreed to be our producer. After the recording sessions, I noticed that I was having some pain in my right side. Stan asked, "John, are you all right?" I said, "I'm just fine. Why?" He said, "You look like you're in pain." I said, "Yeah, I'm having a little pain in my right side. I guess it's where I fell down the stairs this morning." He said, "Look,...

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The Wilde Adventures Chapter X

posted by Peaceandlove67

Ready to Rock
One day, I was strumming on my guitar. The phone rang. Uncle Bob answered it. He then said, "John, it's for you." I answered the phone. It was Peter. He asked, "Can you and Allen come over?" I said, "I can. I don't know about Allen." Peter said, "If you can, bring your guitars. I have a surprise for you." I said, "Okay." I went over to Allen's, and he was able to come. Allen asked, "What's the occasion?" I said, "Peter said that he had a surprise for us." Allen said, "I like surprises." We arrived at Peter's, and there was another guy with him. I jokingly asked, "What's Frank...

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The Wilde Adventures Chapter IX

posted by Peaceandlove67

Graduation
The next day, I graduated from high school. Before the ceremony, I talked with Allen, Peter, and Liz. I asked, "Are you all ready?" They all said, "Yes." Peter asked, "Are you ready?" I said, "Ready as I'll ever be!" During the ceremony, we all made animal noises, even though we were told not to. Maybe it was immature, but Mr. Ross was just asking for it when he said, "Don't make animal noises during graduation." He should have known that's what everyone would do. During his speech, he said, "You've been waiting for this for the past seventeen years, or eighteen for some of you."...