A young writer, Annabel Swan, reached out to share this powerful, dramatic female monologue for teens:  "The Waiting List."

Annabel is a gifted writer with a keen ear for dialogue that feels real and natural.

So glad she reached out! For others reading this post, if you have monologues you'd like to showcase, don't hesitate to contact me at [email protected]! I'm always on the lookout for opportunities to draw awareness to and link to great work, like Annabel's!

Synopsis of "The Waiting Room" by Annabel Swan

A girl accompanies her best friend, Lily, to the school counselors office. It takes WEEKS to get these appointments. Shameful, but true.

She can't imagine what Lily needs an appointment for. Lily is the furthest thing from troubled...

And yet, Lily has asked her to join her “for moral support.”

Never in a million years would she have suspected that Lily had been struggling with suicidal thoughts. Not Lily, not perfect, together Lily ... and yet ...

She is floored by the realization, when a counselor asks Lily if she's had "thoughts." And Lily, her dear friend who she knows through and through, looks down .... unable to meet the counselor's gaze .... nods her head .... 

Lily has .... had .... thoughts.

The appointment ends. There probably will be some follow ups, but for now, the moment is over. It's back to class ... biology.

She is reeling emotionally, in shock, as she walks arm in arm with Lily. 

As she walks arm in arm with Lily back to biology class as if .... as if this day were still a normal one, as if this world, her world, hasn’t been irrevocably changed by Lily's truth..