Borrowed Light for My Youth

Owen has grown up beside Lena, the girl from across the hall who once held his hand to school and stood in front of him when other children mocked his weak eyes. On senior picture day, a classmate jokes that they are a little married couple, and Lena's low, irritated voice tells him to give her some space. Owen's hearing has always been sharp, and he knows what he heard.

After school Lena is pulled away by Grant Hale and his friends, who tease Owen as an invalid boyfriend. Lena snaps that he is her friend, the first time she has ever corrected anyone. Later, at her birthday, she barely opens his gift, the out-of-print record he spent two weeks hunting down, and he overhears her say she does not want to go to Westbridge, the school they promised each other. On SAT morning, Owen walks through the gates alone.