4
<
I watched her go, numb, then trudged back to the dorm.
I eventually curled up in bed, tears welling up
in my eyes. With every ounce of strength I had, I crushed the pain.
Later that night, I had a dream. I was playing basketball, cocky and full of swagger, with Amy cheering me on.
Then, I dreamed I was smoking and drinking, with a dragon tattoo on my arm, and dyed
hair.
Amy loved me even more.
She said I was finally making her heart race.
But then I woke up in a cold sweat, shaking
く
my head, trying to forget that dream.
I might be confused, but I couldn’t lose
myself.
I wasn’t Jake, and I didn’t want to be!
I had my own path to follow.
The next morning, I took a cold shower and went to morning study hall.
Amy was late, because she’d been getting Jake breakfast, watching him eat before
coming to class.
I ignored her, burying myself in my books,
preparing for the upcoming SATs.
Amy seemed happy that I was leaving her
<
alone. She pulled out her phone, texting away,
with her books propped up between us.
One to hide what she was doing from me, and the other, from the teachers.
I didn’t care to peek. Amidst the sweltering heat of summer, I took another step toward my dream school.
LO
Twenty–eight days before the SATS, Amy got punched.
She came back to class, one side of her face
swollen, her hair a mess, tears in her eyes.
I didn’t say anything.
She sniffled. “Tom, it hurts.”
Those words stopped me in my tracks.
I remembered how Amy always came to me
when she was upset.
If someone stole her toys, she’d cry and ask
me to get them back.
If someone ate her candy, she’d cry and ask.
me to steal someone else’s ice cream.
When her parents spanked her, she’d sit next
to me, crying, saying it hurt.
After eighteen years, I was still used to
listening to her.
