There was a shimmer of light, a shift of the shadows.

The room came into focus.

“Blow out the candles, Mikey!”

It was Mike’s sixth birthday party. All of his friends were there. He knew how it would end up, the disappointment and hurt feelings.

The world turned and the light shimmered.

He was in an auditorium full of people. He heard his name and walked to the podium to receive his high school diploma. As he took it and shook the principle’s hand he could feel the years of struggle and hardship ahead. One back-breaking minimum wage job after another, often followed by months or years of unemployment.

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