With the new routine, the days had become easier. Each sunrise brought a new opportunity to navigate the world without her, and Mike found that the pain gradually dulled to a manageable ache. He clung to the small routines and the familiar faces at school, finding comfort in the predictability of it all. But the nights were harder. When the world went quiet, the memories and grief would flood back, making it difficult to escape the sorrow that lingered in the darkness.

Mike was always the kind of kid who thrived on challenges. Whether it was in academics, or life in general, he needed something to keep him engaged and motivated. Though he tended to gravitate more towards academics, he learned that sometimes engaging in sports brought challenges he didn't know how to tackle. There was so much uncertainty in sports, and he often found himself outside his comfort zone. As a kid, he struggled with sports. He blamed it on the fact that his dad wasn't around to teach him, and his uncle lived far enough away that it wasn't possible for him to learn how to do something simple as throw a baseball. There was this part of him that never wanted to learn, he didn't need to have a father figure. He could figure it out all by himself. He was Mike.

For Mike, academics were easier; read something, understand it and never forget it. He had been following those steps since he discovered the magical powers of his memory. It had allowed him to take care of his mom when she was going through the worst with cancer and keep his grades up. He tried so hard to make sure his mom was taken care of, he didn't bother her with questions about homework or how the world worked. In fact, he didn't try to bother her at all with silly questions. He understood the emotional and physical toll it had taken in her. Sometimes he felt like he was too young to have understood but he loved his mom and he wouldn't change his actions for the world.

He had spent nights googling for cures, and understanding what was happening to his mom. He had spend hours praying, hoping and searching for something to take his mom's pain away. Little did he know that his prayers would be answered but in the way he hadn't hoped.

Death had been the furthest thing he had hoped for.

After his mom passed away, Mike felt a void that academics couldn't fill. His bed, away from the world became a place of reflection. He often found himself there, blinking, thinking about the past and what the future held. His memory, once a tool for academic success, now replayed the moments he shared with his mom, the laughter, the tears, and the silent promises he made to her. Mike stared at the ceiling in the darkness until sleep overcame him.

It was somewhere before the 6:45am waking up call from his alarm. He found himself staring at the ceiling, watching it spin around him. He had spent this incredible day with his dad learning poker and but nights were always harder. He didn't have anything to hide behind, any reason to pretend. The nights were when everything came crashing down. His thoughts occupied with the fact that it had been a month and he hadn't gone to visit the gravesite. It had been so long since he allowed himself to think of his mom and how much he missed her. He was scared. He managed to convince himself that he would go when he was ready, but what if he was never ready.

He rolled over and reached for his iPod, he shoved the headphones in his ears, trying to drown out every thought his brain was trying to recall, every make believe scenario his mind was trying to conjure. His fingers worked fast to select the song by The Beatles. The song that made him feel closer to his mom. The song that had a way of calming her nerves, and pulling him out of his thoughts.

He probably made it 3 full songs, not that he was counting, before his alarm interrupted He easily fell back into routine. He got dressed, grabbed his backpack, and headed to the kitchen. His dad was already there, making breakfast. They exchanged a few words, mostly about the poker game from the previous day. Mike appreciated these moments, even if they were brief. They provided a sense of normalcy, a distraction from the thoughts that haunted him at night. In the car, on the way to school, he tried to focus on the day ahead, but his mind kept drifting back to his mom, her smile, and the way she used to sing along to The Beatles.

Despite everything, he found solace in learning. School was a place where he could immerse himself in subjects and forget, even if only temporarily, the pain he carried. His mom had always encouraged his curiosity, and he felt a sense of duty to honor her memory by doing well. It was like each lesson, each fact he absorbed, brought him a step closer to her, making the effort worthwhile. In those moments, Mike felt disconnected from the real world, as if he was in a bubble where nothing could touch him.

But lately, he didn't feel like trying anymore. The weight of his grief was becoming too much, and the motivation that once drove him was slipping away. He breezed through school without much effort, but the passion and drive he once had were fading. The routine that once provided comfort now felt like a monotonous cycle he was trapped in.

He knew he could always turn to Harvey for support, but he was managing it on his own for now. The thought of burdening Harvey with his own struggles held him back. Harvey had been through so much already, and Mike didn't want to add to his father's worries. Instead, he found answers in friendship.

Mike's friends at school were a solid group of guys who had his back, or at least provided him with some kind of support through distraction. It was exactly the group of friends that Mike needed. They would often hang out after classes, playing video games or just talking about anything but the heavy stuff. Their laughter and camaraderie provided a much-needed escape from his grief. Despite the nights being harder for Mike, these moments with his friends gave him a glimmer of hope and a reason to keep pushing through each day.

His friend group consisted of him and two other guys, they weren't exactly the definition of close knit but as close as Mike could find. It started with Alex, as mostly everything did. Alex, a blond haired boy who wore the coolest tee shirts, designer jeans and the freshest sneakers. He was known as the class clown; lighting up rooms, and filling rooms with laughter just by his sheer presence. It helped Mike feel more accepted and less lonely. Being around Alex and his easy-going nature brought some light into Mike's life. Alex's ability to lighten the mood and make everyone laugh had become a welcome distraction that Mike clung onto.

Next was Jake. Jake was the star track athlete. Although sports teams didn't matter much in middle school, they were a gateway to high school sports, and those definitely mattered. At least in terms of popularity and college scholarships. Jake's dedication and talent on the track were already setting him up for future success. He had a lean, muscular build from years of running, with sharp features and a confident smile that seemed to reassure everyone around him. His short, dark hair was always neatly kept, and his bright, determined eyes reflected his unwavering drive. Jake's presence was magnetic, drawing people in with his infectious energy and relentless positivity. He was a pillar of determination and drive, always pushing Mike to do his best with shouts of encouragement during practice runs and gym class. He would shout stuff like, "Come on, Mike, one more lap! You got this!" Despite their differences, Jake's relentless positivity and drive had a way of lifting Mike's spirits, making him feel like he could conquer anything.

However, as time went on, Mike began to see a shift in his friends. They started being mean and acting out to get popular. It was very subtle in the beginning; it started with Alex, as it always does, telling jokes that sometimes crossed the line into mean-spirited territory. The jokes would eventually become borderline bullying, but Mike could push away the feelings that those jokes gave him. He told himself that as long as he didn't laugh, he would be fine. He could convince himself that Alex meant no harm, he was just trying to fit in, and it's not like the other kids were being told things that they didn't know.

The shift happened with Jake too. His competitive nature started to manifest in reckless decisions. Mike couldn't help but feel a growing unease, wondering if these friendships might lead him down a path he wasn't prepared to take.But those were put to rest just as soon as they entered his brain. Feeling bored and restless, Mike started acting out too. He figured if his friends were getting attention for their reckless behavior, why not join in? He began skipping classes, making snarky comments to teachers, and even pulling some pranks just to shake things up. The thrill of doing something "cool" made him feel alive, even if it meant stepping away from the person he really wanted to be.

It was how Mike found himself outside the principal's office, waiting for the office to call Harvey. His shoulders were slumped, and he was staring at his shoes. He was trying to listen to the phone call with Harvey, but all he could hear was his heartbeat pounding in his ears.Mike's mind raced with thoughts of regret and uncertainty. He was all alone having taken the fall of his friends actions. It didn't mean that he was innocent, he wasn't. But it wasn't entirely his doing. His loyalty to his friends felt greater than the consequences of his actions.

As Mike waited, the minutes felt like hours. He replayed the events in his mind, how everything had spiraled into this moment. The weight of his friends' betrayal stung, but he knew he had chosen to protect them, even at his own expense. He thought about what his mom would say, the disappointment in her eyes. The sound of the office door opening snapped him out of his thoughts. Harvey walked in, he briefly glanced at Mike, letting him know to follow him inside.

Harvey and the principal exchanged pleasantries and handshakes. Mike knew it was probably out of common courtesy and neither of them actually wanted to be there, at least not at Mike's expense. They both sat down, still maintaining eye contact, neither of them speaking.

Harvey broke the silence, "Ms. Thompson, I'm sorry we are meeting for the first time under these circumstances. Mike's a good kid, I don't know what has gotten into him lately."

Ms. Thompson looked at Harvey with a mixture of concern and disappointment. "Harvey, I appreciate you saying that, but we need to understand what led to this situation. Mike, can you explain what happened?" She turned her gaze to Mike, waiting for him to speak.

Harvey's head whipped in Mike's direction, waiting for him to begin speaking.

Mike's face paled and eyes wide with fear, how was he going to explain this in front of Harvey.