Chapter 1

The whole backyard had been cleaned up.

Freshly cut grass. Six folding tables with red-and-white checkered tablecloths.

A handmade banner hung over the garage door: "CONGRATULATIONS SOPHIE—MAGNET HIGH SCHOOL, 8TH IN THE DISTRICT!"

I sat at the table in the farthest corner, right next to the trash cans and the drink coolers.

One by one, the adults went up to my sister—hugging her, handing her cards, piling on the praise.

"Sophie's always been so smart. Magnet high school—Ivy League's practically a done deal!"

"The Stirlings must be so proud. She takes after you two."

My father beamed as he flipped burgers, bragging to anyone who'd listen:

"Sophie won second place in the statewide math competition in eighth grade. She really outperformed on the magnet school entrance exam. Her mother and I even rented an apartment near the school so she wouldn't have to commute far..."

My phone buzzed in my pocket.

A score notification from the College Board.

"Renee Stirling—SAT total 1580—Ranked Top 50 in the state."

I stared at the screen for a full thirty seconds.

Then I calmly turned the screen off and placed the phone face-down on the table.

Mr. Martin, sitting at my table, had had a few beers. His face was flushed.

He suddenly slapped his knee and turned to me, raising his voice over the chatter:

"Hey! Renee—I remember you're graduating this year too, right? Any college decisions yet? Ivy League send you an offer?"

The table went quiet for three or four seconds.

My father's smile faltered. A flicker of confusion crossed his face, like he was mentally calculating what grade I was in.

My sister blinked and looked at my mother.

My mother, carrying a fruit platter, stepped in smoothly:

"Oh, Mr. Martin, you're mixing things up! Renee's applying next year. Today is Sophie's day—here, have some more wings!"

My fork froze halfway to my mouth.

She didn't even remember I'd already graduated.

That morning, I'd taken the SAT alone.

I set my own alarm for 6 a.m. I drove myself—forty-five minutes on the highway to the test center in the next town.

At noon, other students' parents handed them sandwiches and cold water. Some had even booked hotels nearby so their kids could rest.

I ate a granola bar in my car, washed it down with icy water from my thermos, and reclined my seat for twenty minutes.

When I walked out of the test center that afternoon, I went home to an empty house.

It wasn't until 9 p.m. that my mother texted: "Wake up early tomorrow and get paper cups and napkins for the party. Don't forget ice."

Mr. Martin laughed awkwardly. "Oh, my mistake then. Next year, Renee—you'll give them some good news too!"

I looked down and forked a cold piece of pasta salad into my mouth.

In this house, being invisible was normal.

…

The party wound down around ten.

My mother was clearing leftovers in the kitchen. She tossed me a basket of cards.

"Sort through these. See who gave gift cards—we'll need to write thank-you notes."

I sat on the living room couch and opened them one by one.

Uncle Greg: a $50 Target gift card.

Aunt Linda: a $20 Starbucks card.

Aunt Karen: a check for $100.

When I finished sorting, my mother called from the kitchen:

"Add whatever gift money you got to Sophie's account. She needs a new laptop for school."

I froze.

Mr. Martin had pressed a card into my hand when he left, patting my shoulder and saying:

"Renee, congrats on graduating. Buy yourself something nice."

That card had a $200 Visa gift card inside.

Now it was part of my sister's new laptop fund.

I quietly put the cards away and left the cash on the counter.

Back inside, my parents were still excitedly counting party expenses and gifts. My sister was flipping through her new gift cards, chattering about wanting the latest MacBook.

I didn't say anything. I went to my room and locked the door.

I opened my old laptop—the one that took two minutes to boot—and pulled up the college application portal.

I didn't apply to any East Coast Ivy Leagues, even though my scores would have qualified.

I applied to Stanford.

Almost five thousand kilometers away.

I clicked "Submit."

The screen read: "Application successfully submitted." I let out a long breath.

The glow of the screen lit up my face. I felt lighter than I ever had.