The Final Cut

My name is Eli Vance, and in my world, everything has a price.

I lived in a small, sagging house that perpetually smelled of stale beer and disappointment, a stark contrast to the academic potential I desperately cultivated.

Every cent I secretly earned from doing other kids' homework was a deliberate step away from a future my parents had already planned for me: a grueling factory job.

My younger brother, Cody, was their sole focus, their "lottery ticket," and his mediocre athletic career consumed every last ounce of their hope and meager funds.

Then, one evening, they finally showed me attention-enough to deliver their verdict.

"You're sixteen now," my father grunted, avoiding my gaze.

"The plant is hiring full-time," my mother chimed in, her voice sharp, "You can quit school. We need the money for Cody's gear and his camp fees."