s it appeared, replaced by that

ting cold. We want you to go in there

usually felt comforting, but now it

followed her out of the room, my mind

he table, reading the ne

y to conquer those SATs?"

d I knew, but as he reached fo

ng, it was on

his left hand, always. I'd fidgete

be I was just

ock 'em dead, kiddo. Just like your mothe

that phrase in his life, his go-to was al

combined with the ring, a c

plate of pancakes,

em in front of me, the light f

but definitely there, ju

fr

ldhood scar from a kitch

at scar, I'd traced it with my finger when I

was on the

voice barely a whi

ing for a fraction of a second. "Oh, this old

my head. "It' s... it'

e ridiculous. You're just nervous

ain, that same coldnes

I kno

. "Your mother is right. You're letting your nerves

uinely angry. His

sing phrases he never used, was now yelling at me

expressions a mixture of feigned con

suddenly look

pretending to eat,

ren't my

thing was terribly, te

, I had to see if Mic

tasted like ash. "Delicious,

sion easing slightl

't take the exam, not now