ted these thin

f pasting on a smi

t stability. I was pa

when he was just start

yes, but shy, awk

ting then, ful

s, helped him mee

tfolios, coached hi

faded as I poured my energy

t. Or I tho

l community center, that

the city council.

him an award, his

eful then. He' d c

"true north." The ir

ome information for a school project

might have i

k dinner." I suspect

look," I said, trying

, searching for a f

lder name on his cl

k, cold feeling,

t city p

em. Mark

ye

ssages, poems,

re my true north, the com

your eyes I see the

us, sicke

rriage, my lack of understanding

, spiritual bond" with hi

e "twin

d, page a

dreams, plans for a futur

about Emily, about the c

athy, understand

ed. My hands st

a deep, bone-

minds." This was a betrayal s

and bitter. Then anger,

ed to be at a

aurant. A trend

hem. I had to