Four days had passed since Izzy's attempt at her Animal Farm report.
She had received a C– on her final grade. "Not so bad," Emma thought. Better than an F, most definitely.
It was Friday night. The local football team, the Pinedale Wranglers, was playing a home game, and last Emma heard, they were winning nine to seven. Out of respect for her girlfriend, Emma stayed away from Izzy's bullies and kept in her room that night.
She could not visit Izzy. She could not go shopping with her. They could not be seen together anywhere.
They were only able to text-message one another after nightfall:
**Emma, today I walked home from the grocery store, and something happened...**
Izzy wrote.
**What happened? Are you hurt?**
The wait for her girlfriend's reply was nerve-breaking.
**Someone spray-painted 'Die Fag' on the front of my house!**
Emma gasped.
**Did you call the police?!**
**They already left. They assume its people I go to school with. Emma, I love you.
The people here...they have become like predators, and I am their prey.
I don't know what to do. It's all crap!**
**Izzy, things will get better. I love you too. You know what we can do?**
**What can we do, baby?**
Emma thought for a moment. A stroke of genius occurred:
**We can go to Minnesota! Just you and I. No one else.
I have an aunt in Stillwater. We can begin a new
life together, Izzy! A new life!**
**What?!**
**We can hop on a bus, honey. There are people like us there.**
**Oh Emma, that is a nice thought, but we can't do that...**
Emma's eyes began to water.
**Why not?**
**I'm in love with you, with every breath I'm still able to take. Just don't think badly of me,
please. I've already made my decision.**
Emma's eyes opened wide at her cell phone screen and sent a reply as quick as she could.
**What's going on, Izzy? What are you doing? Please tell me!**
Her phone failed to vibrate with another message....
