front of the stage
gone. But I’ll still be here. I am Collingston High nike dunk heels School!”

Hartman hoisted the extinguisher once again and swung it at Roman.

Roman ducked.

Again.

Roman ducked.

After missing the third time, Hartman let the canister fall to the ground.

His arms nike dunk heels burned with exhaustion, and his rapid breathing lifted up his weathered

suit coat up and down. He put his hands on his knees searching for air and looked

into the crowd.

Hartman looked at our faces, at the teachers, and then at the cameras that

were still rolling, like he’d just awoken from nike high heels a bad dream, like someone else had

been in charge of his body over the last five minutes. Hartman stood up, adjusted

his tie, sucked the crimson snot back up his nose and combed the long wild hairs of

his head back over the bald spot with his fingers.

Hartman lowered himself off nike high heels the front of the stage, threw his shoulders

back in their correct posture, walked up the aisle and out the auditorium doors.

The shock hovered over us for several seconds, and then a voice from

somewhere in the crowd started to sing “Joy to the World.” Then another voice.

And jordan high heels another.

Heather walked up on stage as the singing continued. The crowd began to

file out one by one, like a church procession without the organ. Roman still stood

in the center of the stage. Heather ran to the middle and hugged him.

“All this for me?” she asked.

“For nike heels both of us,” he said.

“Why? What changed your mind?”

“The advice of one friend and the strength of another.” Roman paused. “I

love you.”

They kissed.

Alone in the spotlight.