sin. The roads were choked with cars honking at each other, drivers exchanging curses like greetings. Towering skyscrapers and monumental build

- peaceful, familiar, quiet. S

much had happened, so many emotions were building up, and all of it had numbed him. In th

r a curse?

, as though expecting

ay a word dur

t looked like it had seen better decades. The yard was overgrown with grass

teenage boy and a toddler. He didn't have the tools or the temperament for it, but he ha

ough the city noise. He found himself envying her - her simplicity, her joy. Inside,

ets and deadlines, with no real social life to speak of. Now, he was stuc

ad fallen asleep, John c

arefully," he said. "You're not a

dded s

hing important: What do you

stronaut," Sam ans

d fantasies, Sam. The world is a hard place. We don't have the money to fu

at qu

time to grow up. You're sixteen. College is coming soon. You need to

. But I still want to become an astronaut. That dream... it's all

other - stubborn, full of fire. He smiled again, though he said nothin

d Sam went to his room. He

't far, but life in the city was exhausting. Everything was expensive. Traffic was endless.

y was located on the other side of the

year-old who was born and raised in the heart of

roy asked one day during

ked up,

is city, the only true god is money. If you don't have it, you're nothing. You want to ch

tayed

do what you want. People respect you. Girls notice you. Y

am final

king. There's a gig I do. But firs

My education's i

ot hear me? The only god in this city i

He knew Troy provided for his mother. He wasn't the smar

o

bills. About his dream of going to a top univ

t, this is what

eam meant missing

ant step

nt making

be