Two Thousand Miles Away

On the day of our college graduation photos, my parents stood behind the camera, happily taking picture after picture of my girlfriend, Stella Daniels, and my best friend, Roman Hopkins.

In every shot, the two of them stood shoulder to shoulder while my parents looked on with proud smiles.

But I was their son. I was the one who'd spent four years as Stella's boyfriend.

Dressed in my graduation gown, I stood alone in the corner, waiting...

My mother never called me over even once.

After the photos were done, Roman admitted he still hadn't found a job.