(2019) You were drained. So immensely drained. There was an endless pit of sadness inside you, and you didn’t even know why. Maybe it was because you were 16. Your eyes were tired, sleep-deprived. You cut yourself, but for what reason? You didn’t know. You were barely surviving, rarely leaving the house unless it was school or a friend’s place. Even then, you were quiet, with your AirPods in. Your AirPods were your lifesaver. You always listened to Billie Eilish.

Billie wasn’t just a pop star. She understood you, and you understood her. Her music, so full of sadness and raw emotion, felt like it saved you. Even if she didn’t know you existed, she meant so much to you. Adults thought all teens were “faking” their depression, but Billie got it. She felt what you felt.

One day, your mom yelled at you to take a walk and get off your phone, blaming it for your depression. So you did. You walked through Griffith Park during sunset, with Billie’s “idontwannabeyouanymore” playing in your ears. You still felt burdened, your eyes drooping with exhaustion.

The park was quiet at that hour. You sat on a random bench, head in your hands, feeling a wave of sadness wash over you. You closed your eyes, your body trembling slightly, breathing deeply. When you pulled your hands away from your face, you looked ahead, blankly staring at the trees. Then you felt a presence sit next to you. You glanced over. Holy fuck. Was that Billie?

Before your brain could fully comprehend what was happening, she spoke. “Are you okay?” She looked over at you like she wasn’t the most famous pop star in the world. She was so down to earth, just as you’d always imagined. “I totally understand if you don’t want to talk, but I just wanted to see if you were okay. I promise I’m not a creepy dude or anything,” she laughed lightly.

For a moment, all you could do was stare. She—Billie Eilish— was sitting next to you. the teen who saved you.