DAMSEL RULES

EL'S

wouldn't say it was the day my dad crashed his car,

ey want you to see. That even the ones you trust most

Don't fal

a performance. A game. And I've never been

ine that breathed for him. My father used to walk with confidence, talk w

dy. Like a heart trying

placed a gentle h

knew there was nothing new to say. He

walked out of

. Just another heavy da

Don't acc

. Long, invisible threads that

ed my forehead to the window. My e

ring, street vendors shouting over one ano

e coins to spare, not when Ma worked double shifts at th

strap of my tote bag. Not out

Never sho

ed of beetles. The next day, they left a jar of the

amos, real estate consultant, family

ar. Coma.

the receipts. Hotel boo

just adjusted her lipstick, smiled like she wasn't br

rust people who

d she still cries when sh

ules onto my skin, I w

gh the rusting gates

My blazer was oversized, hand-me-down from my older b

s!" the dr

pped

om weathered poles. The smell of cut grass clashed with fried street

h

EN

, my human glitter cannon of a best f

aring glit

s spirit day! And

dpanned, appearing with two cups of steaming taho-soft

ss

ath," Hannah said chee

I mut

spreadsheets. Hospital bills.

who were forming a wobbly pyram

ing the game late

t ga

oly Cross vs.

I'd face at the inter-acad chess tournament. The same scho

hess toda

you might want to sneak a look. I heard

not int

wil

pty center shelf waited for the

ot. Not for clout.

e scho

e exit

ills. Out of the ICU purgatory. Out of the version

as my s

played wit

TI'

ourtyard, legs stretched out, trying to p

dding planner conf

ing college. Still fig

I was also someo

on in my direction. "You're bro

ng," Luke chimed in

no. He read a school article, "MCS's Volleyball Gods

n't a

eren't

oly Cross. We were dressed in blue-and-gold

against again

"Where your future heartbr

nned. "L

, braid swinging,

ayer today," Tim noted. "S

t n

mo

thing in the ba

? A conv

," I said

n had

EL'S

to win, do it so well the

d. Velvet cloths. Judges in coats. Chess

i delegates. Model-perfect, laughin

dn't

arsity jackets or high cheekbones

here t

en I s

. Quiet eyes. B

of t

t know

e

like a queen expecting to win. Bu

here to