Chapter 9
The next day, I dug through my room until I found the glass jar Luigi had given me, filled with 999 paper cranes he’d folded by hand.
Every piece of colored paper was covered with love notes and dreams about our future together.
Now that we were ending, it was time to return them.
That evening, I waited by the waterfront with the jar of paper cranes, my heart feeling like it was made of stone. Finally Luigi showed up.
With Rosalia clinging to his arm.
Rosalia looked surprised to see me. “Aurelia! Luigi and I came to watch the fireworks. What are you doing here?”
Luigi’s face went white, scrambling to explain. “We just randomly ran into each other on the way here. It’s not what it looks like.”
Watching him desperately try to manage both of us, I felt absolutely nothing. I held out the glass jar without emotion.
This belongs to you.”
Oh my God, those paper cranes are so pretty!” Rosalia lunged for the jar before I could blink.
But her grip “slipped,” and the jar crashed to the concrete with a violent smash.
The paper cranes scattered across the muddy puddles, my memories dissolving into filth.
Aurelia, I’m so sorry! It was an accident-let me help you pick them up!”
She started to crouch down, but Luigi grabbed her arm protectively.
Don’t touch the glass-you’ll get hurt. They’re just paper.”
But he was too late. Rosalia gasped dramatically as a thin line of blood appeared on her finger.
Ow! It’s bleeding…”
uigi immediately wrapped her finger with his shirt, shooting me an apologetic look that made me want to vomit.
Aurelia, I need to get her to urgent care. We’ll catch up later, okay?”
le swept Rosalia away like she was made of porcelain.
stood there among the wreckage of two years, whispering to the empty air: “There won’t be a later, Luigi.”
Fireworks exploded overhead in a cascade of gold and red, like the universe was mocking my pain with its beauty.
I watched every burst, pretending this light show was my goodbye to this toxic life.
After the crowd dispersed, I borrowed cleaning supplies from a janitor and swept up every piece of glass and every soggy paper crane, dumping it all in the trash where it belonged.
When I got home, the house was empty-Rosalia probably getting her “wound” dramatically treated while my parents fussed over her.
Perfect. I had work to do.
By dawn, I’d packed everything I owned into neat boxes, but I wasn’t taking any of it.
Let them throw away eighteen years of my life. I was done being their unwanted daughter.
I stuffed one backpack with my documents, transcripts, and the bare minimum to survive.
Then I walked out of that house forever, feeling lighter with every step.
JFK Terminal 4.
The military officers were impossible to miss in their crisp uniforms, standing near Gate 12 like sentinels.
A handful of other recruits my age were already gathered, and we nodded at each other with shared understanding.
I handed my transcripts to the commanding officer.
“Aurelia Cooper, reporting for duty, sir!”
He reviewed my paperwork with approval. “Welcome to the program, Cadet Cooper. You’re about to begin dual degree training in classified research. Your country is counting on you.”
I boarded the military aircraft with the others, my chest swelling with purpose for the first time in years.
Once seated, I snapped my SIM card in half and threw the pieces out the window. My phone went to the officers.
I belonged to something bigger now.
Goodbye, New York.
After Luigi got Rosalia’s finger bandaged-three stitches for what looked like a paper cut-she mentioned her family’s Bali trip.
Luigi’s stomach twisted with guilt. If Aurelia’s whole family was going, she’d be traveling while still pissed at him.
He texted desperately: Babe, heard about Bali! When you get back there’s graduation stuff and parties. That’s when I’ll make us official, I promise. Please don’t be mad.
The message delivered but stayed unread.
Luigi stared at his phone, anxiety eating him alive. Aurelia had never ignored him this long before.
Maybe she was just busy packing, he told himself. She’d forgive him once he finally went public with their relationship.
he had to.
Graduation ceremony day arrived with all the pomp and circumstance their prep school could muster. The auditorium was draped in banners:
CONGRATULATIONS CLASS OF 2025.
Luigi sat with his hockey teammates, scanning the crowd obsessively. He spotted Rosalia and her parents in the front row, dressed like they were attending the Met Gala.
No Aurelia anywhere.
His chest started tightening with panic. “Rosalia,” he called out during the reception, “where’s your sister?”
“Oh, she left for New Mexico last week,” Rosalia said with fake casualness. “Some volunteer thing, I think.”
The words hit Luigi like a physical blow. Around them, classmates started whispering.
“Wait, did the class genius bomb her SATS? Is she hiding out doing charity work because she’s embarrassed?”
“My cousin did that when she didn’t get into college-went to teach English in some remote village to avoid the shame.”
“That’s so sad. I always thought Aurelia was super smart.”
Rosalia put on her concerned sister act: “Oh, don’t judge her. She’s just… finding herself.”
1457
Chapter 9
Luigi felt like he was drowning. He’d been texting Aurelia for days with no response. Had she really failed and been too ashamed to tell him?
His fingers were shaking as he typed: Aurelia, even if college didn’t work out, I don’t care. I’ll wait for you no matter what. Please just talk to me.
Before he could spiral further, Mr. Miller took the podium for his final address.
“Students, before we close this chapter of your lives, I have extraordinary news to share.” He connected his phone to the massive screen behind him. “This year, our school produced its first ever recipient of a classified government scholarship. This student will be pursuing dual degrees in a program so selective, I can’t even tell you what they’ll be studying.”
The auditorium buzzed with excitement as everyone tried to guess who it could be.
Luigi’s heart was hammering. Maybe it was Tyler, or one of the debate team kids-
Mr. Miller’s photo filled the screen.
It was Aurelia, holding an official government document and smiling with quiet confidence.
The room exploded in shocked whispers. Luigi shot to his feet so fast his chair fell over,
Rosalia’s face went ghost white as she stared at the screen in disbelief.
That wasn’t supposed to happen. Aurelia was supposed to fail, to disappear, to be forgotten.
nstead, she was already gone-and she’d won.
