School Shooting Tragedy

Atticus Shaw, 18

I never imagined that coming to school could be accompanied by the threat of someone's longing to cause harm. It cost me more than I ever thought I could lose...

Cody and Brendan, my teammates, always say, "If you play for the name on the front of the shirt, then they'll remember the name on the back." Too bad it's a stolen quote, or I might have actually thought they were smart. Still, I lived by it every day. There was something almost prophetic about it.

One had a blonde mop for hair, and the other had a kinky perm to attract girls. You can imagine which one was which. They said the craziest things. Both were the goofiest, most energetic guys I knew, and both of them were my best friends.

I woke up like any other teenager, unaware of what was about to happen. I never thought a school shooting would take place at the one place I felt safest, where I could be myself without worry. It was unimaginable that something tragic could happen there.

I gathered my football gear and headed to my car, unnoticed. My parents were rarely around or present. I didn't need them to take care of me. I bought my own lunches, prepared my own dinners, and barely spoke to them if I saw them.

My mom didn't wish me good morning on the day of the shooting, and my dad didn't bother either...the one day I would have appreciated it the most.

My dad was likely sleeping in to avoid my mom's hungover return. She was terrible at hiding her dissatisfaction with her life here. Whenever she was sad and wanted to escape, she planned trips to go clubbing with her friends.

She's been doing that a lot since her ongoing fights with my dad started at the end of my sophomore year. So, it's been two years of constant drama. Happy anniversary.

They haven't talked in weeks; it's like they don't want to work things out. They avoid each other at home, in the bedroom, and in public, including my games.

I felt like they were only staying together just for my sake, but I had to let that go. Even that was starting to feel like a lie, and I couldn't dwell on it. I went to school to escape them and that part of my life. It worked out for a while, but using distractions only made things worse.

My mom never really understood me, and my dad was always too busy with work to notice what was going on in my life. I guess that's why football became so important to me. It was my escape, my way of proving myself.

As I drove to school, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. The sky was overcast, and there was a strange tension in the air.

When I pulled into the parking lot, I saw Cody and Brendan already there, joking around as usual. They waved me over, but I didn't go to them. I was waiting for someone.

"What are you up to?!" Keira called out, easing the tension as she walked up to my car with a bright smile and captivating almond eyes.

She was a stunning Asian girl with a vibrant personality who excited me every time she was around. Whenever she was within earshot, I craved her attention. But she didn't know that. And she didn't need to.

You might say it's because I like her, but actually telling her that is a whole different story.

"You caught me!" I joked. "Come and see for yourself!" I leaned over to open the passenger door for her. She got in and immediately noticed the letter I was holding while Maroon 5 was playing on the radio.

We were seniors, and it was April 15th, 7:13 am.

It was one month before graduation, before college. Keira, too, if she decided on where she'd like to go. I sensed something was holding her back. But she surprised me, because I was holding the letter that held my future. It was the only school I wanted to attend for my career path. She saw the excitement in my eyes and teased me, which worked.