Early hours: gray on gray, blinds drawn, the room quiet. I pack up our belongings, just enough, stuffing a change of clothes, my laptop and phone, my cap and gown into my backpack; some items for Kamal in his bag. I tap Kamal awake and he quietly climbs down the ladder and follows me downstairs. I told him how we were going on a fun trip, first to my graduation, then somewhere special.

The halls are dim, but we find our way through the kitchen. Out the back, through the courtyard and into the alley. The lock is still broken, just the way Carlos said. I tug it loose, step out onto the pavement. It’s still early; the streets are mostly empty.

Stomach clenched, I glance behind me. Where’s Carlos? Maybe I was stupid to ever agree to this plan.

A door snaps open, footsteps. I spin around. It’s Carlos, running, his backpack hiked over his shoulder, his sketchbook jutting out over the flap.

“What happened to you?”

“Sorry. I couldn’t find my pencils.”

I start to walk away. “Great. My graduation and you have to worry about some pencils.”

“Rania, wait!”

“What?” I swerve around. He looks genuinely sorry.

“It’s just…I can’t go anywhere without my drawing stuff.”

Now it’s me who feels sorry. “My bad,” I whisper.

Then Kamal starts jumping up and down, the straps of his backpack squeaking on his shoulders. “Please, Carlos!” he begs. “Come with us! It’ll be so much fun!”

My eyes swing to the corner. The subway is three blocks away.

“Hurry,” I say.

Carlos is right on this front too: going to graduation, even sneaking out, is worth it. My class, sitting crammed in the hot auditorium, silky nylon sleeves floating around our arms, sticking to our bare legs. There’s a flutter of a thousand programs, since everyone is using them as fans. I look over the sea of heads and spot Kamal, beaming at me. Carlos sits where Ammi should be. I gulp down the hurt in my throat. Then my name is called for my award, and I struggle across the stage, sandal straps digging into my toes. Ms. Ricardo gives me a hug. “Good luck, Rania,” she says, and I realize she knows nothing of what’s happened to me. I’m just another senior who flaked out in the last days.