I sit in my darkened room, staring at the old Brittney Spears poster that fell off my wall two weeks ago. I've decided it's not worth my time picking it up. my eyes drift to the digital clock on my decades-old pink vanity—7:45 am. I'm running late. I let out a heavy sigh and lift my emotionally malnourished body off of the creaky twin-sized bed that I've slept in since second grade.

The emotional hermit of a human I call Mom hasn't refurbished my room since my dad died. When he committed suicide Karol decided that she'd take up a hobby in apathy. She doesn't talk to me until absolutely necessary and doesn't seem to care about anything I do since I got out of ED recovery. She never seems to notice that the only time I ever even leave my room is for school, and today is my last day, after today, I am graduated.

I make my way to the bathroom to wash my face and throw on makeup. I look at the person in the mirror. she looks like me, but half alive. I wash my face and put on enough makeup to hide the paleness of my skin, I muster up a smile and head down to the kitchen. Kallum is standing by the door excitedly. I look at the plate of food my mother left out for me and leave the house. I get in my 2004 Chevy Silverado and drive. Kallum chooses the music, it winds up being some video game music I've never heard of. I crank the volume and keep my eyes on the road. Kallum is rocking out doing air guitar and mouthing the lyrics. I smile to myself. I love him.

we pull into Galena High School. Kallum's eyes light up as he sees his girlfriend. A small black girl with pigtails, blue and pink glitter eyeshadow, and an oversized letterman jacket knocks on my passenger window. Kallum rolls it down and gives her a passionate kiss.

"PDA!" i yell playfully and shoo him out of my car. They both giggle and run off into the school yard. a large purple school bus with the words "CLASS OF 2008!" spray painted on the side pulls into the school parking lot. Jocks pour out of the badly painted bus and start chanting.

"C.L.A.S.S of 20 06, C.L.A.S.S of 20 06". I roll up my passenger window, put in the new Amy Winehouse CD, and wait for the bell to ring. I run to class, trip 4 times and make it into Ms. Sanchez's class with 26 seconds to spare.

Ms. Sanchez is the best teacher in the entire school. she's taken care of me all year and helped me pass all my classes, now i get to spend my last day in her classroom. I know everyone but i don't really have friends, it never really bothered me until Ms. Sanchez says the worst sentence an introvert could hear.

"Everyone find a partner". I have a mini panic attack and wind up partnering with the teacher, which I don't mind but everyone will give me weird looks. but at this point, I'm used to being looked at this way. we play a trivia game. you pick a random prompt, and you have to answer it about one of the people in the partnership and see if you come up with the same answer. luckily I've eaten lunch with Sanchez all year and I know more about her than any of the students.

"favorite color? 1, 2, 3!" i smirk

"Purple!" we say in unison

"Spirit animal?"

"Albatross!"

"Dream travel destination?"

"I don't know this one," she says to me with an eyebrow raised

"Amsterdam" I respond shyly

"That's a good answer though" she chuckles "Illinois sucks anyway"

I feel good.

Leighton Keiler is an anomaly here in Galena. He was wildly popular in high school. He had good grades, a pretty girl on his arm, a national award-winning martial artist, and his parents died. Then nothing. Since he graduated he has stayed in that big white house his rich parents owned. Who knows? He could be Batman.

A lot of rumors float around, but I’ve studied the Keiler’s case. So here's what I know. Leighton was born on November 13, 1984. His parents were the richest family in Galena, not a huge feat because we’re such a small town. Nonetheless, they were loaded. His mom Sage was your average 80s housewife and his dad Leslie was a British Navy veteran but also an alcoholic, he liked to beat on Leighton and Sage anytime anything was off. He never faced any real consequences for his actions.

Sage had her problems though. She favored her daughter Maya. She would treat Maya like a queen and consistently forget Leighton despite his achievements. He would work his fingers to the bone trying to get some recognition from his parents.

Leslie hated his son. Leighton was always good but not in the way he wanted. He wanted a son who played soccer, partook in ROTC, and worked hard. Leighton on the other hand was active but preferred Taekwondo, he did extracurriculars but led the debate club, and he never learned his dad’s work ethic. The more Leighton drifted, the more Leslie hated him, the more violent Leslie became, the more Lighton hated him. And the cycle never ended.

Until October 12, 2003. Leslie and Sage were found dead in their home from a murder-suicide committed by Leslie. Leighton and Maya were at school and unfortunately had to hear the news via the principal. Leighton had turned 18. He was on his own, but got his father’s inheritance. Maya went to live with her aunt in New York. Although Leighton had a 4.0 GPA he dropped out and became a hermit. An interesting thing about this case is that Leighton wasn’t in the sight of anyone we know of when his parents died. It’s speculated that he was out dealing drugs. When he was questioned he was found with weed on him.

Theories circulate throughout Galena. Some people think Leighton killed his parents, some think Leighton’s dead body is laying in that house and that’s why no one sees him, but i think he’s just a broken guy living in that house alone wallowing in self-pity. It’s sad.

Today is Graduation. I get out of bed with a bit more optimism than I’ve had the past 4 years, I get dressed in a nice black dress, tights, and the same converse I wear every day. The shoes are torn up, but they’re what I have from my dad.

When I was 7, I wanted my room to be red. After dad had bought me a red balloon and it popped, I was so upset that Dad bought two buckets of red paint at the hardware store and painted my room. Unfortunately, we got it on Mom’s college shoes. My dad had hid the shoes in his closet, and gave them to me the day before he kicked the bucket. So, yes. I have been wearing the same shoes for 4 years. I’ve replaced the soles twice. I don’t think I'll ever stop wearing them.

I pull up to the school. The parking lot looks so empty. The assembly doesn’t start for 30 minutes, but I got here early to talk to Sanchez, but I didn't see her car. She must not be here yet. I put a CD in the player and crank the volume. I pull out my notebook and continue working on a poem. I write horror poetry for an occult publication in Europe.

falling in love is such a fickle thing

` and I love much differently than the rest

because I'll love you until death we part

until your blood is on the carpet

and I've seen inside your chest

until your limbs are sprawled-

BAP BAP BAP! I jerk my head around to see a blonde curly haired younger man knocking on my truck window. I turn down the radio, put my notebook to the side and roll down my window.

“Kindness Kimberly Sinlcair. Your parents like the letter K, hm?” I look at the man with confusion and disdain

“I’m sorry. Do I fucking know you?” He smiles at me, and moves his light, curly hair with his left hand.

“According to 7 different people, you know the most about me” I look into his dark eyes contemplating. We sit in silence for what feels like 30 minutes. Shit. Leighton Keiler. He sees the realization on my face and that sweet smile scarily fades in a heartbeat. “What are you doing today?”

“Um I- Well it’s graduation day…” he rolls his eyes.

“Can’t you skip that?” I look at the clock. 6 minutes till assembly.

“Erm- no, i can’t. I’m already late to meet someone.” his smile returns, less sweet this time, more preformative.

“10pm, meet me at the corner of Grove and Toledo.” he begins to make his departure.

“No? What? With the string of murders? Are you fucking nuts?”

“I’ll protect you. Come.” his dark eyes look more relaxed now

“You can come pick me up at my house or I can drive to yours. I’m not meeting a 23 year old in the middle of nowhere.” he shrugs with content.

“Fine. come to mine at 9:30” I look at him in gentle triumph and wait for him to leave. Great. Now I don't have time to see Ms. Sanchez. Teacher-student fantasy. Gone