SHOULD'VE BEEN
Mitchell, Robin, and Daisy are all sitting together in silence. They are typing on computers working on a project.
Robin: She stops writing and looks up Have you guys heard from Tyler recently?
Everyone pauses to think about it
Mitchell: I haven’t talked to him for a while, last week he texted me but I haven’t had a chance to respond.
Daisy: laughing Because your dad took your phone again?
Everyone goes back to working until Daisy stops again
Daisy: Well, I haven’t heard from him in a while.
Robin: Neither have I.
Daisy: I think we should Google his name.
Mitchell: Why?
Daisy: Because I miss that kid
Robin: We have work to do you guys.
Daisy makes a fart noise
Robin: Daisy
Daisy: Too late! It’s loooooaaaaadddiiiing
Mitchell looks over Daisy’s shoulder
Robin: Fine, it’s not my grade at stake
Mitch gasps, his friends freeze, and there is a blue out two metronomic beat, a spotlight on Oliver
Mitchell: Santa Monica Mourns Third Trans Teen to Die by Suicide
Two Metronomic Beats, Lights go back up
Daisy: What the hell happened?
Robin: Should we read it?
Daisy clicks on the article
Mitchell: Santa Monica Mourns Third Trans Teen to Die by... Suicide. This-This can’t be about Tyler.
“Tyler Peterson, an- an accomplished-”
Two metronomic beats
“Died by suicide on June 19th”
June 19th? That- that was the last time you texted me. I had my phone taken away that day. That was the last time you texted me- the last time you’ll ever text me. I-
Two metronomic beats
I should’ve picked up. I should’ve tried harder to answer, I could’ve done something, I could’ve helped somehow. I know I could’ve, I should have called or texted or-or- I shoulda-
Two metronomic beats
I shoulda been the one, I’d take your place in a heartbeat. You had so much to offer everyone around you. You’re smile was enough to brighten anyone’s day, people adored you and you shouldn’t have been the one to die, you shouldn’t of. Your family loves you, these people sitting next to me love you, I love you. It should have been me.
Two metronomic beats
Are you happier? Did you feel everything collapsing in on you and this seemed to be the only way you could escape the pain that your day to day life would bring? Did you feel that every day was just a blur, everything hurt and death would relieve the pain... Were you scared?
Two metronomic beats
The room feels cold, the world feels empty and desolate. I want, with every fiber in my being, to be angry, but I can’t be... Because I understand. In a world where we are forced to choose between “To be or not to be” you choose “not to be.” I still feel I should’ve done something, I should’ve done something, I should’ve-
The lights go up and he lets out an exhale.
Robin: Mitchell, are you okay?
Mitchell: Yeah, I’m fine
Robin: She stops writing and looks up Have you guys heard from Tyler recently?
Everyone pauses to think about it
Mitchell: I haven’t talked to him for a while, last week he texted me but I haven’t had a chance to respond.
Daisy: laughing Because your dad took your phone again?
Everyone goes back to working until Daisy stops again
Daisy: Well, I haven’t heard from him in a while.
Robin: Neither have I.
Daisy: I think we should Google his name.
Mitchell: Why?
Daisy: Because I miss that kid
Robin: We have work to do you guys.
Daisy makes a fart noise
Robin: Daisy
Daisy: Too late! It’s loooooaaaaadddiiiing
Mitchell looks over Daisy’s shoulder
Robin: Fine, it’s not my grade at stake
Mitch gasps, his friends freeze, and there is a blue out two metronomic beat, a spotlight on Oliver
Mitchell: Santa Monica Mourns Third Trans Teen to Die by Suicide
Two Metronomic Beats, Lights go back up
Daisy: What the hell happened?
Robin: Should we read it?
Daisy clicks on the article
Mitchell: Santa Monica Mourns Third Trans Teen to Die by... Suicide. This-This can’t be about Tyler.
“Tyler Peterson, an- an accomplished-”
Two metronomic beats
“Died by suicide on June 19th”
June 19th? That- that was the last time you texted me. I had my phone taken away that day. That was the last time you texted me- the last time you’ll ever text me. I-
Two metronomic beats
I should’ve picked up. I should’ve tried harder to answer, I could’ve done something, I could’ve helped somehow. I know I could’ve, I should have called or texted or-or- I shoulda-
Two metronomic beats
I shoulda been the one, I’d take your place in a heartbeat. You had so much to offer everyone around you. You’re smile was enough to brighten anyone’s day, people adored you and you shouldn’t have been the one to die, you shouldn’t of. Your family loves you, these people sitting next to me love you, I love you. It should have been me.
Two metronomic beats
Are you happier? Did you feel everything collapsing in on you and this seemed to be the only way you could escape the pain that your day to day life would bring? Did you feel that every day was just a blur, everything hurt and death would relieve the pain... Were you scared?
Two metronomic beats
The room feels cold, the world feels empty and desolate. I want, with every fiber in my being, to be angry, but I can’t be... Because I understand. In a world where we are forced to choose between “To be or not to be” you choose “not to be.” I still feel I should’ve done something, I should’ve done something, I should’ve-
The lights go up and he lets out an exhale.
Robin: Mitchell, are you okay?
Mitchell: Yeah, I’m fine