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rthwood I had left behind. I stopped, my suitcase handle slick in my palm, and took a deep breath. The air smelled of exhaust, hot aspha

to California, my little lawyer!" Aunt Carol's laugh was lo

ace. "You're too thin," she declared, immediately grabbing the handl

chattering about the traffic on the 880 and how she'd found the perfect little shop for beddi

ed through my hair, and I watched the palm trees blur past. It felt surreal, like I was watching a movie of someone else's l

hiding her eyes. "So, those two boys didn't come to

n. "We're in the past, Aunt

blind fools. Never good enough for my Emily." She had never liked Kevin, always said his confidence was

of the Berkeley campus rose up around us. It was even more beautiful than the pictures. A t

ing us a few curious looks from other students. At the check-in desk, the dorm adminis

night. She squeezed my hand one last time. "You make them see

dy, excited drum against my ribs. I swiped

hroat. The room was split into two distinct territories. One side was an explosion of designer shopping bags

on her face, talking into her phone. She glanced up as I ca

r voice just loud enough for me to hear clearly. "She looks

unchanged. I'd dealt with a thousand versions of this

marred by a look of profound boredom and disdain. Her eyes raked over my simple jeans

not as an introductio

replied, ju

e on the full scholarship." She paused, letting the words hang in the air. "Congra

power. I didn't rise to the bait. Instead, I turned and starte

put on a pair of noise-canceling

her unspoken contempt. I looked around the small space, this tiny room that was already a

text from my mom. *Are you

mpus is beautiful.* I attached a picture

cket. My gaze hardened. None of this mattered. The room

make friends. I