Autumn Noelle Hall

By the Numbers

First day of school jitters. Second-guessing the outfit pressed and laid out on the chair. Third time at the mirror to check my tousled hair. Four folders holding color-coordinated notebooks. Five ball point pens—two black, two blue, one red. Heart rate—climbing steadily from double digits to triple as a thousand questions race through my mind—where will I sit? what will my teachers be like? how much homework will I have? will I make new friends? A million possibilities twinkling in the dark—one wish-come-true. I can do this.

forty five
the weight of my backpack
and my age