Kelly

She shuts her locker and grabs the books that her parents insisted she purchase from school so that she can continue to study during the summer.

She knows that her classmates will be busying themselves with parties and bonfires tonight. She’ll be at a quiet family dinner and maybe tonight she’ll be the star instead of her sister, the 19-year old college senior.   

As she walks down the hall she passes a gaggle of popular girls…pink, pretty, giggling.

They don’t notice her as she passes and she thinks that maybe once she gets to college she can become someone else.

Ryan

He skips his graduation because he doesn’t care. He’s not one for walking across the stage and shaking hands and throwing hats. Besides, he knows he’d be the shortest in all of the photos.

He’s been taking business courses at the community college at night, trying to get a jump start on something bigger…something better…something out of here.

He wants to make something of himself. He wants to attend his 10 year reunion knowing that he “won”.  He has something to prove.

A week later his diploma arrives in the mail.

He throws it away.  

He’s ready to move on.