Where Reality Ends

h the quiet of my room, it was early

elt like it decided my whole future

he screen, an

TAKE TH

that tone, even in a te

e vanished three years ago,

dn't handle the pressure

Michael wouldn't just leave, not withou

back immediately, my fing

ave dialed has be

ery other time I'd tried

n the phone buzzed aga

M. THEY AREN'T

wn my spine, wh

be late today!" Mom' s voice call

e under my pillow just a

ile on her face, but her eye

! I made your favorite bre

o hard, her cheer

rabbing my SAT review guide from my d

is already downstairs. We

r, her eyes sc

, "Yeah, I know. A bi

brilliant. You'll do great

on my shoulder,

ers, the warning from the

chael this morning," I said,

shed, her face h

ut Michael. Not today, not

rp, a complete shift fr

pressure too," I pushed

as weak. You are not weak. You will take that e

tling, it wasn't just concern,

, or maybe, I was just starti