I shook my head, desperately trying to dispel the state of shock I was in. The only logical explanation was that I had imagined it.  Human beings couldn’t vanish without a trace. As much as I might wish my affliction were something slightly supernatural, like being a psychic or a telepath, I knew it couldn’t be possible. When it came to my dreams I knew there had to be a reasonable cause, even a scary one like an underlying medical condition.  As I stood there, praying for divine intervention to ease my suffering, the bell rang. I sprinted down the hall as fast as I could and headed for the English wing.

I silently slid into the seat Caroline had saved for me and opened my book to the page Mrs. Burleson had written on the smart board. I was determined to shrug off any negative thoughts and focus on school. While most teachers simply cover the attendance roster and assign books on the first day, Mrs. Burleson, it seemed, had spent the summer preparing a detailed syllabus outlining the course objectives for the entire semester. She even made partner assignments for our first presentation. The rest of the class flew by as we read Macbeth, and before I knew it, the bell signaled for us to report to second period.

I was beyond ecstatic when Caroline and I were assigned to be partners for a project in Economics.  By the time Mrs. Harper dispensed the textbooks and curriculum overview, it was time for another class to start. Even though I liked my previous two teachers, I was relieved for history because it was my favorite subject. Stories of battles, treaties, and revolutions fascinated me. I could pore over my textbooks for hours, absorbing all the facts.

 Caroline and I filed into Mr. Rieder’s class and found two empty desks in the back left corner. Caroline took her seat and I slid into the one directly behind her. I pulled out my purple notebook and a pencil, placing them by the textbook in front of me before the bell rang.