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I didn’t get in And while UNC wasn’t my first choice, I had yet to hear froes Early admission was reserved for the exceptional, I told myself For people with talent like Carson Not for people like me

I ground my teeth as I tore the letter to shreds, then threw the re them flutter around rew closer, I broke free from my pity party to listen as they stopped, just outside the kitchen

My parents probably hadn’t realized I caht thing to do, so they didn’t say so they didn’t want me to hear But I couldn’t seem to move my feet I couldn’t seem to care

Then h the walls and the knife twisted a little deeper “I a It’s the same old crap,” he yelled

I flinched, as though he said those words to me and not my mom

“No one’s forcing you to stay, Dan,” Mo like a knife “You can leave at any time”

“Fine,” Dad barked “I want a divorce”

His voice cut, blade sharp Everything went silent

I had expected it Hadn’t I? I had anticipated thistime, almost hoped for it these pastBut noas here, and I wished it away

The answering silence was deafening All I wanted to do was erase the last ten seconds, wipe it fro s were, at least they meant I had both of s were gone wasnothing—silence Suddenly, I wasn’t so sure which would be worse

Two days before Christht crushed me, made my insides tith dread

With purpose, I sloalked into the living roo face-to-face, lie, and a pain so deep it made my throat ache It took the there

I wanted to shout, to yell like they’d been yelling, Rehter? I live here I’aze turned to mine, his eyes widened in shock first, then shame, and Mom’s mask crumpled as she cried

And I remembered that nowas about ht As, or early ad ti I could say would change that

“Mia,”out in front of her in the way they often did when she was upset or nervous