The Empty Lockers

~Chapter One~

"Elijah, I'm not playing with you. This is serious!" His mom screams at him, her hands a louder expression than her voice.

"Mom, I told you, I'm sick! You saw me throw up this morning!" Elijah protests, his hands in his pajamas' pockets.

"I know that it's fake, Elijah. You can't fool me. Do you think I was born yesterday?" She shoots back at him, raising her eyebrow and narrowing her eyes.

"You don't know that for sure, Mom! I'm sick, just feel my forehead," He says, pointing to his head. All Elijah's mom does is sigh, shaking her head.

"I. Don't. Care," She says slowly, through gritted teeth. "Skip school once you go to college, for all I care about, but this is Test Day. You're not going to miss this, young man. End of discussion," She responds, a serious expression on her face, walking away from his room. Elijah can then hear her muffle a small cry when she gets to the living room.

He didn't want to go to school. He hated Test Day and having to sit in a plain white room all alone, where he would stare at the most boring math problems for hours at a time. And the guards with guns and a straight face at all times.

But he wasn't faking. It was all just a coincidence. Everything in Elijah's life seemed to be one big coincidence. He couldn't really explain it.

Nonetheless, he started getting dressed and packing his lunch for school. For his Test Day. His mom would be even more furious if he missed his bus and she then had to drive him to school as well. Elijah shuddered just thinking about it.

Before he leaves his room, his mom walks back over to him and wraps him in a hug, shutting her eyes tightly. "I love you, baby. I believe in you," She says, pulling him closer to her body. Elijah hugs her back.

"I love you too, Mama."

He grabs his jacket from the coat hanger and leaves the house, with one untied shoe and mismatched socks. Walking to the bus stop, he felt ridiculous and uncomfortable, but waves goodbye to his mom, watching a tear make its way down her cheek as she waves back.