hocking contrast to the warmth of my

ears and drunken rage. Her hand, the one that had ju

reamed, her voice cracking. "

man who had committed suicide years ago. The m

you had just let me go to him that day, he

tion. The day of his state championshi

meant everything to us. She had stayed, reluctantly, and we had both

e. And for all these years, in our seemingly perfect life in a New York City h

ast thing I saw was her face, twiste

a sudd

e band posters on my bedroom wall. I sat bolt upright,

t me, a date I would never forget. It was the morning of the J

as

hadn't happened yet. The years of Nicole's resentment, the hollow success,

ing as she flipped pancakes. She was younger, health

rly," she said, smiling. "B

I lied, my v

n front of me. "You've worked so hard for this.

mpossible reality. This wasn't a dream. This was a second ch

stopping Nicole f

s ever loving

zed. A text

I'll meet you at school before the bus leav

g through me. The love I once felt was gone,

issed my mom on the cheek,

ding out

eetie. I'm so

Mom. I

s text message. I wasn't going to conquer a