20I

I peered into every classroom. I didn’t care which teachers saw me.

You deserve this. You deserve this. You deserve this.

“Take my picture,” you said.

So I lined up the old camera.

“Is there film in this?” I asked.

Fiona found me between third and fourth periods.

“What’s going on?” she asked.

“Nothing,” I said. How could I begin to tell her?

“Evan—” She put her hand on my shoulder. Or tried to.

I ducked away. “It’s nothing, Fiona.”

I am not the center of attention.

“You can’t …”

“What, Fiona? What can’t I do?”

“You can’t do this alone.”

“You know what?” I said. “I’ve been doing it alone ever since they took Ariel away.”

away    gone      exiled      over

“What do you mean?” Fiona asked, too much concern in her voice. I couldn’t take it.

“I don’t have to explain!” I shouted, pulling away from her.

I am not the center of anything.