Chapter 3: The Verdict

The Tuesday of the vote dawned gray and still, the Washington sky a solid, unbroken sheet of lead. It felt like the whole world was holding its breath. At school, the usual chaos was muted, replaced by a tense, watchful silence. Conversations were hushed, and eyes were wide with a shared, unspoken dread.

I saw Conner at his locker between the second and third period. He looked as exhausted as I felt. He gave me a small, hesitant nod, and I managed a weak smile in return. There were no words. What was there to say? Good luck with the decision that will fundamentally alter my life and not yours?

The final bell was a trigger release. We all flooded out of the classrooms, but instead of the usual frantic rush for the buses, there was a slow, dazed exodus. The vote was over. The ballots had been collected. There was nothing left to do but wait for the axe to fall.

That evening was the longest of my life. My family moved through the house like ghosts. My mom tried to make a normal dinner, but the meatloaf was dry and the potatoes were lumpy. No one complained. My dad retreated to the garage, the sound of his tinkering a nervous, sporadic rhythm. Jake, for once, seemed to sense the gravity of the situation and stayed in his room.

I tried to do homework, but the words on the page swam in front of my eyes. I texted Symone.

Any news?

Her reply was instant. Nothing. Mom’s pacing. Dad’s on the phone with everyone.