Dear Dad,

It's January
And your letter was lost in the mail again.
But you haven't missed much
Since your last write.
Did you hear I started college?

It's getting colder here,
But i can't come live with you
Back in September.
I'm needed here as I am sure you understand
--Maybe not.

Time is so grey these days
And no one answers my questions.
The lump in my throat is starting to suffocate,
Slowly,
And acid coats my tongue whenever the thought enters
But i can't help but to ask:

Where are you?

But I don't expect an answer,
Or want one.
Because for once,
I'm doing fine.
--Great.
Stronger than ever, thanks to
Me.

By the way,
I gave up baseball.

Bye,
Ryan

'acid coats my tongue' read very worrying... and the whole poem conveys so well the N's disappointment, yearning and - as it looks - despair...

Well done, talking to an absent dad, perhaps an imaginery recipient. The casual mention of giving up baseball is especially meaningful, baseball being such a big part in a youngster's life, and now no longer. The idea of simply giving up at the end makes this piece sadly memorable.