Emptiness

 Photo by kyo azuma on Unsplash 

The hallways were silent as I walked toward the exit. I knew I should have left earlier, but I had been hoping Alex would show up. He was the only reason I had even come, but I was beginning to believe he would never live up to any of the promises he made. Although, in the back of my mind, I had known it all along, but I was just hoping he would make an effort. 

Now that the party was winding down, I needed to make my way out of the building before the police showed up. I knew they were coming because I was going to call them as soon as I left the parking lot in my silver Corolla. Angelina had planned the party as part of our Senior prank, but no one had signed up for the destruction she was about to enact on the school in her so-called era of rebellion. At least I hadn’t. And I couldn’t risk not graduating because of a bitter classmate. 

None of my friends had come because they knew what Angelina was up to and had encouraged me not to come at all. But the lure of Alex had been too strong and I wasn’t ready to relinquish the hold he had over me. At least not yet. After his no-show at this party, his aura was starting to fade. Had I known what was waiting outside the hallway door, I never would have left the building at all.