They Filled Her Suitcase And Emptied My Place In The Family Chapter 05

They Filled Her Suitcase And Emptied My Place In The Family Chapter 05

Four hours later, the plane touched down at Logan Airport. The New England air was dry, the

sunlight fierce. I stood outside the terminal, looking at the shuttle bus banner: “Harvard University Freshman Shuttle.” I let out a long breath-as if expelling eighteen years of sediment.

On the bus, a girl next to me introduced herself. “I’m Jenny Song. Are you in science too?”

“Vera Grant. Physics.”

“Whoa, a genius!” She grinned. “That’s their top program.’

I looked out at the unfamiliar streets and felt my mouth curve upward. So my name could be

connected to “genius” in someone else’s mind. Not “Lily’s gloomy sister.”

After registration, I got my dorm key-a fourperson room with bunk beds, spacious and bright, the

Charles River visible from the balcony. I hung my few clothes in the closet, bought the cheapest

solidcolor bedding with my grandmother’s money, and made the bed.

I sat in the chair and looked at my clean desk.,

Finally a desk that was mine. One that wouldn’t be taken away.

A thousand miles away, at Northwestern University, Ethan was leaning against his car, frowning at

his phone. Red exclamation mark. Message not delivered.

Marcus came over with two empty water bottles. “What’s up?”

“She blocked me.”

Marcus scoffed. “She’s getting bold. Don’t worry about her-she’s probably crying in some corner.

When she runs out of money, she’ll come crawling back.”

Ethan didn’t answer, but his frown stayed. He knew me too well. No matter how hurt I’d been

before, I’d never blocked him.

“Did you get through to Mom?”

Marcus shook his head. “Blocked too. She’s furious-says she’ll break Vera’s legs when she comes

back.”

Lily ran out of the dorm, pouting. “Ethan, Marcus, my sister still hasn’t come to help with my curtain. I tried to hang it myself and almost fell off the stool.”

Ethan steadied her “Did you get hurt? I’ll ask the dorm supervisor.”

“But where did she go? She applied to Northwestern too.’

That uneasy feeling in Ethan’s chest grew stronger. He found the registration desk. “Excuse me, can you check if a freshman named Vera Grant has registered in physics?”

The senior typed. “No Vera Grant in physics.”

“The other departments?” The senior searched the whole database. “No Vera Grant at all, Are you sure you have the right school?”

Ethan’s face went pale. “That’s impossible!” He slammed the counter. “She definitely applied to

Northwestern!”

The senior recoiled. “Check with the admissions office.”

Half an hour later, with family connections, Ethan reached Northwestern’s admissions director. “Vera Grant?” The director checked his system. “Ah, I remember her. National Merit Scholar, 1600

SAT-we tried to recruit her.”

Ethan’s breath caught. “National Merit… 1600?”

“She had a perfect GPA and nearperfect SAT.” He shook his head. “But she put Harvard first. Her

enrollment was confirmed months ago.”

Ethan stood frozen, a ringing in his ears. 1600. Harvard.

He saw her back in the dim hallway, studying by moonlight. Her expression when her desk lamp

was taken-calm, unblinking.

“She went to Boston…” His fingers shook.