Conrad knew exactly what memory this was.
He knew before he even saw himself.
The hallway smelled like old books and floor polish.
The lockers were smaller.
The uniforms were different.
And everyone around him looked younger.
Conrad looked down at his own hands.
Middle school.
His stomach dropped.
"No."
He knew what was coming.
He had spent years trying not to think about it.
He'd been stupid.
Thirteen, maybe fourteen.
Old enough to understand what a secret meant.
Young enough to believe telling his older brother wouldn't hurt anyone.
He remembered sitting with him after school.
"You know Destiny likes you, right?"
His brother had laughed.
"Destiny? Seriously?"
"Yeah."
"How do you know?"
Conrad had shrugged.
"She told me."
His younger self walked down the hallway.
His older brother was standing with a group of boys near the lockers.
Conrad followed.
He wanted to stop himself.
He couldn't.
He tried anyway.
"Don't."
Nothing.
His brother laughed.
