Page 4 (1/2)

I balancedas the skin of my thumb split I popped it intothe letter with my empty hand The sweetest pressure settled in my chest as I unfolded it This was erald," I started to read along Then stopped

No No No

How? They’d adrades from last semester wouldn’t matter They would start me on academic probation and then let up when I did well this first se two cups of coffee as she stood in front ofin "Are you okay?"

Failure stung like a bitch Oh wait, that wasthe paper cut, and al that hurt that badly should at least give you so to show for it

Kind of like the last two and a half years I’d wasted in college

My voice didn’t shake, or hold any tone It was as nuret to inform you that we cannot accept you into Troy University"

It doesn’t matter what state you move to You’re still a whore

Chapter Two

Sam

"Sam? Let me in" Ember knocked for the hundredth time

"Go away," I answered, ainst my bed Breathe in Breathe out This will pass It has to

"That’s so not going to happen," she called through my bedroom door "Let me in"

Let her in? To what? The absolute mess I’d made of my life? Another school rejection Another chance…lost God, what if it wasto accept iant black ain

And maybe I deserved it for what I’d done

My stomach rolled and saliva pooled in mypast Ember as I raced to the bathroom The bath mat cushionedup what little coffee I’d ed to drink

Ember pulled a curl fro co