Extend the Story - Add a Room

"Oh, what happened?" he says. The interesting thing about Mo — well, there are lots of interesting things, but this is one of the biggest — is that, sometimes, it seems like he already knows what you're going to say. Even now, he stares at you with sympathy and pity, but no curiosity. It's uncanny.

But you don't bring it up, diving right into your story. You tell him about how your parents yelled at you over your grades, how you caused a car accident for two other drivers by swerving out of the way and escaping the incident, how your sister, yet again, got you in trouble for something you didn't do…the list goes on and on. But you can tell by his occasional "I see"s and "That's horrible"s that Mo's invested.

"I see," Mo says when you, out of breath and full of rage, finally finish. "Thank you for telling me."

"I just wish that my life was different," you groan, dragging your hands down your face.

At that moment, the light reflects off of his glasses in a way that hides his eyes. "Say, if you had the chance to get away from here, would you take it?"

"No, I'm just being dramatic."