My stepmother lied and told me my dad skipped my award ceremony. He showed up unexpectedly, opened a hidden letter she tried to hide, and froze in total shock.

On the morning I left for the program, Ava put six paper stars in the front pocket of my bag.

“One for every Sunday,” she said. “You can call me when you take one out.”

“I can call other days too.”

“I know. Sundays are for the stars.”

Caleb handed me his camera with a new strap. Dad checked the travel papers for the third time.

Vanessa had asked to come to the departure bus. Dad told me it was my choice. I said yes because she was part of Ava and Caleb’s morning, and because I wanted to see whether we could manage a goodbye.

She arrived just as we were loading the car.

“That bag looks heavy,” she said.

“It is.”

She carried it to the trunk without asking for credit.

At school, students gathered beside the bus with suitcases and nervous parents. I recognized one girl from the online meeting. Her name was Lila. She waved me over.

Dad held on to me for a long time before I boarded.

“I’m proud of you,” he said.

“I’ll call tonight.”

“Call when you’ve settled in. I’ll be here.”

Caleb gave me a quick hug and told me to photograph something other than buildings. Ava squeezed me around the waist.

Vanessa waited until the others stepped aside.

“I hope it’s everything you wanted,” she said.

“Me too.”

She touched my shoulder, then let me go.

The first week was harder than I expected.

Lila and I shared a room. She was kind, but she seemed to know the answer to every question in our science class. I missed home at night. I worried that I would disappoint Dr. Ellis, Ms. Harris, and Dad all at once.

On the third day, our instructor asked us to explain a mistake we had made during a project. I talked about a set of water samples I had labeled incorrectly. I had to collect them again. When I finished, Lila raised her hand.

“That happened to me with soil samples,” she said. “I thought I was the only one.”

After class, we walked to the dining hall together.

“You always sound so sure of yourself,” I told her.

“I’m nervous all the time,” she said.

I laughed. We began helping each other study.

On Sunday, I took out the first paper star and called Ava. She told me Dad had burned toast twice. Caleb shouted from the background that Dad had only burned it once, then admitted he had eaten the evidence the second time.

I wanted to be in the kitchen with them. I also wanted to stay where I was.

Dad came on the line.

“What did you learn this week?”

I told him about the lab and Lila. Then I admitted I had cried after lights-out on my first night.

“I wish I’d been there,” he said.

“I’m okay now.”

“I’m glad you told me.”

When the call ended, I taped Ava’s star inside my notebook.

During the second week, Dr. Ellis asked if I would present my creek project at an open session for visiting families.

“I thought we only did a final presentation,” I said.

“We do. I’d also like the visiting students to hear how you started with a question close to home.”

I thought about the auditorium stage and Dad standing in the back row.

“I’ll do it.”

I called him that evening with the date. He said he would come. I heard him put it on the family calendar while we spoke.

Two days later, Vanessa called me for the first time since I left. I had expected Ava to be on the line, but Vanessa was alone.

“Caleb told me about your presentation,” she said. “I’d like to attend, if you’re comfortable with that.”

I sat on the edge of my bed. Lila had gone to the library.

“I don’t know,” I said.

“That’s fair. You don’t need to answer now.”

She asked how I liked the classes. I told her about the lab. We talked for five minutes, and she ended the call without asking again.

I spent the next day thinking about it. I wanted Dad, Caleb, and Ava there. I was still unsure how I would feel if Vanessa sat beside them.

I called her back.

“You can come,” I said. “I want everyone to be there.”

“Thank you, Nia.”

“I’m nervous about speaking.”

“I’d like to hear what you’ve been studying,” she said.

It was an ordinary answer. I appreciated it.

On the morning of the session, I stood behind the lecture room door, holding my notes. I could hear families finding seats. Dr. Ellis told me to take my time.

When I walked to the front, I saw Dad in the second row. Caleb had his camera ready. Ava waved both hands. Vanessa sat beside her, listening as I began.

I talked about the creek, the samples I had to collect again, and the questions I still wanted to answer.

Halfway through, I lost my place. My hands shook. I looked up.