Dear Louis, I doubt anyone else will respond because this story of mine is older and I’m not sure who is still reading it. However, I’m glad that I got a notification, since I’m the author. I’m not sure you can ever escape a broken heart. You just get used to it. There’s always a little bit of pain. That’s how it’s been for me. The pandemic has made it all so much harder as well. Your teacher has no right to bother you about grades right now. Your family is probably worried about themselves. None of that will make you feel better, but people often show their weaknesses when a true challenge hits them. The pandemic is a big challenge and many are showing their true colors. That hurts, I know. Hang in there. Find some music you love and dance to it in your room. Try to go for walks (with your dog???) and become comfortable with disappointment. I’m not saying life sucks, just that it’s hard. I still miss my friend who took her life and I see how much her son hurts from it. I have two friends whose sons took their lives recently, and I can tell you, they are in more pain than anyone on the planet. You may think your family doesn’t notice you, but they love you more than they let on, I’m sure of it. And my own home burned in a wildfire this past summer. I lost three pets and all my belongings. So yeah, life is hard. For some reason, once I realized that and accepted it, my heart felt lighter. I hope this makes sense and I suggest you find someone in your life you can talk to about your heartache. Don’t let it take over, just give it a space to sit every now and then. You know how in Avengers, Bruce Banner says his secret to controlling his anger (the Hulk) is to always be a little angry? I think that’s how it is with pain. We keep it under control when we admit we always hurt a little and don’t try to fix it.