I recognized her immediately. Same eyes, but sadder; same hair, but grayer.

She’d dominated my yearbooks: cheerleader, homecoming queen, class favorite.

As she rang up my groceries, I suddenly wondered which was more unfortunate… Those who peaked in high school, or those of us who wasted our lives envying them.

Gail Warber is the winner of several writing contests including E.K.U.’s creative non-fiction competition. She lives in Appalachia with her four frisky corgis and three frisky grandchildren.