Chapter 41

Cassandra could count the number of times in her entire life that she had felt special. There was one time in fourth grade when the music teacher asked everyone to sing. The other girls had given it their all and sang the best soprano they could. But not Cassie.

When the bald man stood before her, raising his music staff or whatever that thin rod he always held in his hands was, she looked him dead in the eyes and sang in her natural voice. When she was done, the man dropped his rod, clapped his hands, and then yelled at the rest of the whole class.

“That is singing! That’s what I want to hear!”

For days after that, she walked on fucking air. But then her family ran into an accident soon after, and she had to move and, thus, ended her music career.

Was there ever another moment after that? A moment where she utterly felt she was special? Cassie couldn’t remember. But if there ever was, she doubted it compared to how she felt right at the moment.

Keith s