​The small thin hairs on my arms moved with each exhale as i rested my cheek on the cold surface of my desk. I could feel my breath quickening as the sound of footsteps grew louder, he was getting closer. 
We were told not to open our eyes and not to peak. I scrunched my eyes tightly until I saw small moving lines and dots through the black of my lids.

The foot steps faded and my breathing returned to a slower pace.  I was safe this time. My arm was beginning to tingle from the weight of my head pressing on the arteries and I wondered how long it would be until I could  get up and open my eyes. The smell of pencils mixed with overripe bananas was coming up as a subtle reminder of the state of my desk.

With my head still down, I slowly opened my eyes. A triangle of sunlight coming in through the window and landing on the floor was all I had to work with.

The foot steps neared again and this time I kept my eyes open. The light on the floor had been blocked and I could see the tips of sneakers coming closer. That same year, I had been told I was observant, now was the time to live up to the challenge.

Broken in hightops, more gray than white. Left shoe lace untied and frayed at the end. Scuffed toes, worn down heels. Jeans. Both sides rolled up but right side cuffed up higher. Just then I felt it. A clamy cold finger pushing on my thumb. I was one of the chosen 7. I’d be going to the front of the classroom to stand in the line up. Me, the kid with the untied left sneaker and 5 other innocents.