“Elsie! Your mom is here to pick you up!”
I stood up not knowing what would happen when I walked out that door. My head was racing through potential ideas of why she was here.
I stopped. I was standing deadly still when I realized why she was here. All the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. I knew what was wrong, but I was in denial.
My hand trembled as the old, metal door creaked open to my locker. Everything I picked up fell. I was a superhero with no power. I tried to walk down the hall. I kept telling myself, just one foot in front of the other. The walls that had previously been brightly splattered with pictures and projects were now gray and lifeless. Soon, All I could see were my eyes filling up with tears. My face was a pale, white bed sheet. Falling. I felt like I was falling into darkness.
All I could think was, “No, this can’t happen. Not now, not ever. It can’t end yet because I’m not ready, because I will never be ready.”