DeMarcos' eyes went from ivory to red as he listened. I began to stutter when I saw that they had begun to glisten. I stopped talking when he placed a gentle hand on my shoulder.

"Kenya, don't cry. It's going to be okay."

I shook my head in denial. The tears in my eyes were now so thick that he was only a shadowy blur. I was embarrassed that I was about to start bawling like a goddamned sixteen-year-old. I tried to take a step away, but as my tears splashed to the floor ...