Graduation Day's Cruel Ultimatum

secret I carried, a constant

art enough to figure out food," leaving me to navigate lunchtimes with only a slosh

e the Wednesday befor

atum that slashed through my fragile existence: drop out a

nds later, the front door clicked shut, severing ti

otten corner of a community center gym, the chill piercin

a reminder of he

heir child, especially one s

'fantasy' in her eyes, a burd

d, leaving me utter

e gym, I saw him again – Jake Peterson, t

gaze landed on me, a travel

n that had once offered me half a sandwich

and then, without hesitation, extended his han