A Grave Mistake

Had the world around him really stopped moving, or did it only seem that way? Fellow students walked by him in the courtyard, blissfully wandering off school grounds for the start of the weekend. A few bumped into him. They might have even saisaid hello, but he wouldn't have noticed. His eyes were open but he was not really seeing anything around him. The only noise he could hear was a buzzing in his ears. Were his ears burning? They suddenly felt like they were burning. Now his face felt hot as well.

How could he have been so stupid? Anger, humiliation and fear fought for dominance in his mind as he paced forward slowly down the walkway that ran through the courtyard. Just five minutes ago he had been excited to race down this walkway and toward home to get ready for the night ahead. But now he wanted nothing more than to crawl back into the school behind him and hide. Disappear. He couldn't go home now. Not after what he had done. He could forget about what he had planned for the night. If he went home he would be lucky if he even made it back out alive.

Then again, maybe he had dreamt the whole thing. Maybe his mind was playing tricks on him. Maybe he could still imagine a world where he had a future. He had to check. With a shaking hand he pulled his phone out of the pocket of hhis crisp new pair of pre-pre-torn jeanjeans. He had worn them for her today because he knew she liked them. Her. Oh, god. Would she ever talk to him again? Would she ever even look at him again after this?

He unlocked the home screen and went to his text messages, his heart pounding so hard he thought his chest might burst. His thumb shook so aggressively he could barely complete the task. There it was. The end of his life as he knew it. A deep grave he had dug with his own sloppiness and stupidity.

"Hey babe, last night was AMAZING. Better than I ever thought it would be. Can't wait to see ya again tonight. My turn to get condoms. Love ya!!"

Sent to: Mom