Depression affects teenagers everywhere; some teenagers are troubled by home life, school life, or just personal matters in general. Jessica says: “Running has breathed air into my soul. It made me feel alive. And now? I'm stuck in this bed, knowing I'll never run again” (Van Draanen 6). Jessica is one of the most determined athletes on her track team, the thing she wants most in the world is to run, and she can no longer do it because of her leg. Jessica says, “So I'm getting used to it and gaining confidence, but I honestly don't know if I'll ever run again. It almost doesn't matter, though. I can run” (Van Draanen 279). The author makes the reader understand that Jessica is depressed, but in the end she becomes the happy girl who can run again. The author wants people to know that sometimes life can be bitter and leave people distraught, but everything will get better, it just takes time. I know depression is a very serious issue to deal with and I think time really does fix everything