Mid-February
The acceptance letter arrived on a Wednesday.
I was making breakfast or attempting to make breakfast without burning the eggs when Maya burst through the front door waving an envelope like it was a winning lottery ticket.
"It came! It came!" She shoved the thick packet into Kai's hands. "Open it!"
Kai stared at the return address: Stanford Biotech Solutions. His internship acceptance packet.
"Open it," I urged, abandoning the eggs entirely.
His hands were actually shaking as he tore open the envelope. I'd never seen Kai nervous about anything, but right now he looked seventeen again uncertain, hopeful, vulnerable in a way he never let himself be.
He pulled out the letter and read silently, his expression unreadable.
"Well?" Maya demanded. "Don't leave us in suspense!"
"I got it." His voice was quiet, almost disbelieving. "Full acceptance. They want me to start the week after finals end."
