No Longer Yours — A Lonely Birthday Wish

Last year, I won first place in a statewide competition. The only one in our school. They barely glanced at my trophy. Move aside, you're blocking the frame for Chloe's certificate.

I simply walked back to my room in silence. Nobody came upstairs. Nobody remembered today was my 18th birthday. I lit the birthday candles I had bought for myself. Every I made the same wish that they would notice me, even just a little. But this I had only one wish to leave them behind I just put away my suitcase my phone

screen lit up it was my Stanford advisor Kate I heard about the check don't panic I am writing a personal recommendation to the board right now we won't let you lose your spot professor pack your bags kid California has blue skies and big telescopes waiting for you thank you I hung up then the tears came flooding