Chapter 4

I remembered Jessie' s triumphant whisper as I choked for breath in my previous life: "Your mother took everything from us. Now I' ve taken everything from you."

The memory fueled the ice in my veins.

This competition was their lifeline, not mine.

The minutes ticked by.

Fifteen. Twenty.

The bus driver kept glancing at the sky, then at his watch.

The classmates grew restless, muttering about Jessie' s inconsideration, but no one dared suggest leaving without her.

Mark paced the aisle, occasionally shooting me a look that said, this is your fault for not being more persuasive.

I simply watched the rain start to fall, heavy and fast.

My Stanford acceptance letter felt like a shield around me.