Today was different. That was actually the overstatement of a lifetime in the mind of Logan Freeman. His all-black attire barely conveyed the darkness that had recently filled his heart. As he removed his tie and unbuttoned his collared dress shirt, Logan tried with little avail to push away his inner sorrow. On his dresser was a recent picture taken at his senior prom. The person standing next to the beautiful young lady and expressing utter happiness seemed like a complete stranger. Staring at that photo, Logan could not help but think that this life that he once enjoyed had now come to an abrupt end.

            After a few moments that passed like an eternity, the door to Logan’s door opened and a woman slightly peered in. Even though he was aware that someone was there, the distraught teenager did not take his eyes off of the picture. His mind was light-years away from anything that was currently happening. As far as Logan was concerned, time had stopped and he was now trapped in a warp, lost in a point of his life that he could never reclaim. What had he become? What happened to the destiny he was promised? Where were the answers that were supposed to console him and give him hope for the future? Dead, it was all dead now.

            “Logan,” the woman at the door finally broke the uncomfortable silence, “are you okay?” She eased open the door and stepped into the eerily dim living space. The woman waited for a reply as she removed a notebook from her purse.

            “No, I’m very much not okay.” What kind of question was that? It was more than obvious that he was an emotional wreck. Logan felt a cold anger build up inside of him but forced it away. She was only trying to help. He knew that but the grief that was overtaking him made it hard to see things clearly. He turned away from the picture and towards the woman. Tears welted in his eyes as he tried to feign half of a pitiful smile and gave his attention to his mother.