Too Pure To Resist

bel

er morning be

g off the walls and almost toppling my bre

uld have woken up to such a miserable so

wasn't. However, I did tend to become grumpy

asleep. In addition to being the last day of cla

awful that I almost forgot to kiss Michael and Mari

rolled by myself. In moments like these, it was always preferable to

d her as she walked ahead of me today

re Daniel was exiled and before I rose

taunting and suffering. However, as word of Daniel's actions s

one in the first grade to refer to me as Grams. Before learning what it stood for-grams of fat-I was

the cruel sixth grader, did something horrible. He had gathe

nd into her mouth when he tossed the bucket at her, but he didn't stop there

that I could now go to school in peace because others were too preo

Daniel fled. However, I reasoned that

she was unable to do her duty after he fled. She was set aside when all

ached for her. She had no cause to be resen

attempted to ignore her, claiming that she is simply envious of the

d me responsible for other people's decisions be

ate frame fall into step with me as I look to my left. As we exchange a covert glance, she

e last day of s

rolls her eyes. "If by last day of school you mean the day Father

rol her tone, and at the moment, the students aroun

at comes from thinking about all the unwelcome ne

the opportunity to continue their

r education and attend college, even though we were all obliged to apply; the

g labor and/or

this year. Among them were Ella and

got into your top

one of the New York City schools, I'm not sure what I

ow hard you have been working and praying. Father Lucas will se

long as I can remember, s

ty, so I made sure to apply to inst

And ideally, they wouldn't have to. Together with Daniel, I would finish my medic

or my goals, particularly from Father Lucas, bu

er Lucas about

with an exiled member, it would only make him angrier. Not to

e never

wasn't causing

manded Ella since I am aware of her propensity for forgetfulness and tardiness. "Don't forge

a deep breath as she passes into the buildi

rible habit

thletic. N

as by the manner in which I was ru

was pouring with perspiration, and I was i

running late, I wa

arrive

en his stitches for the third time this week. Since I was th

d upon. The fact that I was assigned to first response responsib

t qualified to handle half of the incidents I

r the meeting in Fathe

ather Lucas doesn't sto

big white house in the middle of The Colony, without e

and many other rooms are located on the upper level, with th

ack at me after running up the big oak staircase and t

typical laid-back smile has vanished, leaving me wi

s, Ella sits on the couch beside

ucas is seated in a king-sized chair behind his desk. His sharp green e

rocess. I shudder a little when I see his clean, chiseled face and

red diss

saying, "My sincerest apologies, Father, there was a medical emergency that I had to

ild." Father Lucas exclaims in a loud voice that reverberates across the

let him embrace me. I hesitate for a second before se

ked pa