I know that Lisa needed to say those things.  They had to be told to the judge to keep Tommy in jail.  But I hate that he knows.  That he knows the effect that he had on me.  That he’s still having on me. It pisses me off.  Fuck him.  Over there, leering at me.  His brother behind him laughing at each description of my pain.  Fuck them both.  He’s going to jail and I’m going to make sure that it is for a long, long time. “The last impact statement is from the victim, Ms. Ryan Miller,” Mr. Shift says. “Please approach, Ms. Miller,” the judge calls.

June, 2000   “Carter Nathaniel Moore.” I walk across the stage, hearing my parents, Lucas, Cody, and the Millers cheering from the audience.  From the stage, Patrick, Jess, and Jaime call out my name.  And from the pit band, I hear Ayo, Lucy, and Ryan screaming. I walk to the principal to pick up my diploma, shaking Principal Lemar’s hand.  Soon after I sit, Jess, Patrick, and Jaime take their walks across the stage.  Not long after we throw our hats in the air and are officially high school graduates. ---- All of our friends and our families meet in the large banquet room at the diner.  Mr. Sloan and the entire staff of the diner hav