FROM HIS MAID TO HIS QUEEN

n it. The anxiety twisting in my chest was unbearable. I kept refreshing the page,

is Lil

school, and now, I was dying

l - always at the top, the face of every competition, an ambassad

bout whethe

the exam well

ut somethi

lars

New York University, my dream school. Without it, I had no chance. My mom couldn't

for law, as far as I was concerned. It was a lit

a sitting room, two bedrooms, and a k

ited, the worse

I didn't have any friends either - not because I was weird or

gle mother was treated l

a knife that neve

de could ever be - slicing through my

y times that eventually... I stopped caring. Mayb

ld still make me feel w

flix. Maybe if I found a good romantic or act

he notificati

Results

fr

grip

rembling. Sweat beaded my forehead eve

did well, right?" I

sit back down and log onto

rs were

etching forever. My heart thundered in my ears. M

e numbers

lin

seeing

it wa

as r

5

e 1400 I ne

y froze. Tears b

the silent crying, the mom

led t

n reali

was just th

ed the actua

acing, trying

s." I whispered to

I grabbed my phone a

nd SAT schol

out, I had gotten a messag

rom Emil

together party, if you don't mind - to celebrate our result and also give m

the message

il

he group that bullied me

ed half the school with his donations,

iful girl every

he textin

't make

ybe it was

- my life was fin

. New friends.

t time in hours and q

ght for me months ago - a dress that clung a lit

as pretending to be someone else. But t

to the address

near Madison

ily, two guys, and two other girls, Olivia

ur dressing really surprised me!"

icked it out for

weetly - and then Olivia added with a light laugh, "

hit me l

the smile slipp

an by that?" I asked, m

jumped in, w

- you know how she is. Don't let her spoil you

soothed me

be she reall

as sorry fo

the party hol

mily said, pointing to the

red a

" I said,

a saint, Lily. You're eighteen now. Time to start

a party

e Emily

time to try s

nside, the noise smash

shed across the p

so hard I could f

shamelessly in

n each other on

d with the music until it

ag tightly, try

letely out

ious part of me wanted to

nded me

juice. No alcohol, I pro

my head whispered

my loneliness, maybe my hope - s

k the

ked off toward two gu

ept glancing at

twisted in

ing wa

ck, dragging the t

friends!" she

se... well, you're going to NYU

ned, c

are you tal

ghed an

something adults do. You'll enjoy it, e

art d

mean?" I as

e grew wider

nity tonight. Don't panic. It'll be fine. You're eight

ror creeping into ev

T DID YOU

myself, my

it won't be like this. I'll do it with the love of my life-a man who loves me and wa

aughter fill

k someone like you deserves true love? No m

n a while since I had something fresh..

e exploded behind my eyes. The room spun. My heart thu

e, but it was useless. The wo

me?" I whispered, barely

mirked. "Oops... slipped some diaze

nic, I fumbled for my phone and called my m

Mo

.. ohh Daniel,

I said,

ha

d your

s. We'll talk when I get home.

of laughter d

" Emily said. "Why don't you

out you," she added, coldl

she's

his is the