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“When I grow up,”

High school.

“I'll make valedictorian, and”

be friendless

“be someone that others look up to,”

that others scoff and sneer at

“and attend a prestigious university,”

Harvard.

“where the professors praise me”

and look at with pity

“because I am advanced,”

but alone

“and I will become a great business man,”

staring at numbers for hours a day

“and I will amaze the entire world,”

the entire world, in all its volume

“and I will have my name written down in the books,”

my face will be blank in the pictures, emotionless

“and only then will I finally achieve”

sameness

“the ability to belong.”

The boy finished his speech, setting down the paper on the podium's high perch. With a short bow that was more of a nod, he observed the stunned expressions plastered on his classmates' faces.

The teacher was the first to regain his composure.

“That— that, was a very interesting speech, Joseph,” he stuttered.

Murmurs of agreement made its round throughout the room, and the teacher called for silence despite the tension. The air was thick. But Joseph looked entirely apathetic. His classmates already knew, that was exactly how his future would be heading.

...and no one heard the future me screaming in bold.