I Rize Read Online Free PDF Page A

sitting before them harbored all of Adny’s feelings from the past three years—loneliness, despair, shamefulness.
    While reading their parts, it seemed as if they each pled their case to be spared. Judgment day had arrived. The audience became their judge between Heaven and Hell. For anyone who had ever been hurt, it was his or her time to feel vindicated. No crimes would go unscathed. No one would leave exonerated of his or her evil deeds. The conjured grudges lingered around the gym.
    Voice cracking, mouth muttering, Terri read the last lines of the poem.
    She was able to form
    a graceful bridge between them,
    in which she carefully crossed,
    not ever thinking of looking back.
    Once over this bridge,
    it broke with her new mind.
    And they were sadly stuck on the other side,
    stupidly seeking to hurt her again.
    Her soft silence weakened them.
    All three girls stepped back, their eyes never leaving the last lines of the poem.
    “You all are speechless. I expressed the same reaction when I read the poem for the first time. I want each of you to go home and prepare a letter addressed to Adny for the upcoming gathering. I pray that all of you will leave your prejudices at the door.”
    Madison pushed Gracie aside while walking out of the gym. “Move, fat hog, you’re in my way.”
    Junior stopped Gracie’s movement as she began walking away with her head down. He lifted her chin to look into her eyes. “Hey, I’m Junior. I see you around school from time to time. What’s your name?”
    He could tell his attentiveness startled her and forced her out of her comfort zone. Her invisible bubble shielding closeness with anyone was broken by his simple words. He could barely hear her respond, “My name is Gracie.”
    Looking closer at her eyes, he wanted her to feel even more comfortable during their brief moment of contact. “Wish I had bright green eyes like yours. Mine are all brown and boring.”
    She slightly chuckled, but didn’t respond.
    “Gracie, what color dye did you use in your hair? The color looks gorgeous on you. I’m gonna steal it.”
    Gracie laughed even more, finally talking, “It’s called Midnight Bliss.”
    When he sensed her level of comfort increase, his tone became much more serious. Gracie’s laughter quieted. “Gracie, keep your head up high. Don’t let Madison get to you, because she’s a waste of human life. I used to always tell Adny what my grandfather told me. There are always two choices in life. You can choose to give in to the tormentors by being the victim, and they win. Or you can choose to give out by being the victor, and they lose.”
    Before leaving for the police station, Junior grabbed both of her hands and said, “Remember, the choice is yours.”
     
    J unior walked into the police station not knowing what to expect. In the two years they had been in a relationship, Mickey never acted in such a sporadic manner. Some officers were busy answering phones and many sat out in the front talking to concerned citizens. Junior found the first available person he saw. He walked up from behind, lightly tapping the man’s shoulder. The man towered over Junior, and intimidation struck his core, making it very difficult to speak.
    “Excuse me, sir.” He was taken aback by how tall the detective was. “My name is Junior.” His thoughts were locked, struggling to spew the next flow of words. “I’m looking for Mickey Torres … I think he was brought here earlier today.”
    Junior attracted the interest of Detective Miller, the lead detective on the case. “Yah, he was brought in. I was planning on asking him a few questions regarding Adny’s case.”
    Junior noticed Michelle standing outside of the interrogation room with a different officer, staring through the glass. He brought his hand over her shoulder to signal his presence. She was asked to come in to verify Mickey’s voice on the 9-1-1 tapes.
    Junior blocked out the officer questioning Michelle to focus on Mickey.