TUESDAY, MARCH 5

I cross the parking lot at school

and see Blake Felipe climbing out of Devin’s

red car. She swings her bag over her shoulder

and now that I know where to look

I see the ghosts under her eyes,

the way her boyfriend’s hand on her shoulder

weighs more than he could ever even know.

We lock eyes, only for a moment, and then

her gaze sweeps over the parking lot

at all the people streaming toward

Marshall’s pale stones. We are searching

for the same thing: pondering the faces

of our peers and wondering how many

wear our same mask.