my room, a ghos

touched wa

he girls, laughing, from a

re it into small pieces, and d

hip medal fro

it hit the bot

oe, full of prom

ead them. Just

my past joined the g

dness in me now

easier

ffice was quiet whe

ready

maybe Chloe, h

hed with a discomfort that was

an have the spot.

his desk. "He's.

erstat

Coach. After grad

id he's got a partial academic scholarship lined up for you at that s

aid. "It's

. "Well, son. I

like a d

sun too bright,

, a sleek black SUV

dow rol

suits looked out. Chlo

l me by my first name, treat m

faces wer

ce devoid of any warmth. "Ms. Davis wou

n't a

, about just getting in

t was t

ma. More

nted it t

the back

er seats

to promise

e'd say, her eyes sparkling. "A dog

just... E

she used

was no longe

o the town's co

the entrance: "CONGRATULATIONS LI

mach c

mall crowd

r face beaming. My sis

makeshift stage, a microphone in his

g my old lett

had insisted on

r hand on his arm, looking

ok she used

y eye as I wa

widened.

ed back to t

believing in me. Especially my amazing sisters, and my wonderful mother." He paus

eople c

beamed. Chl

me, a flicker of some

e to share this moment in good spir

ike I was the bad

at me, their expressions a mi

the one cau

y the door, flanked b

r at my ow

ice, just enou

d on you." My tone was flat, laced wi

he game. It'

e, then at my si

For good. Don'

out, the guards pa

no one trie