Chapter 4
The doctor came out after what felt like an entire lifetime.
Mom stood immediately.
I nearly tripped over my graduation gown.
"Is he okay?"
The doctor looked tired.
"Mr. Williams is stable."
I closed my eyes.
Thank God.
He explained that Arthur's chest symptoms required further investigation.
The immediate emergency had been managed, but the team wanted to evaluate his heart carefully.
He would remain in the hospital.
I looked toward the door.
"Can we see him?"
"Not just yet."
Mom nodded.
"We understand."
But I didn't understand how someone could walk out of a graduation ceremony and end up fighting for his health hours later.
I sat down.
My phone vibrated.
Raymond.
Again.
I stared at his name.
I wanted to throw the phone across the room.
Instead, I answered.
"What?"
He sounded cheerful.
"Hey, kiddo. I heard somebody had an accident."
My stomach tightened.
"How did you hear that?"
"Your aunt mentioned something."
I closed my eyes.
"Arthur is in the hospital."
Raymond sighed.
"Well, I hope he's okay."
His voice sounded careless.
Then he added, "Listen, I wanted to explain why I missed graduation."
I stared at the wall.
"Not now."
"Just hear me out."
"My dad is in the hospital."
Raymond paused.
"Your stepdad."
I felt something inside me snap.
"Don't."
He sighed.
"Maya, let's not make this complicated."
I stood.
"Arthur raised me."
"I know."
"He paid for my education."
Raymond laughed softly.
"Well, that's what stepfathers are supposed to do."
My hand tightened around the phone.
"What have you done?"
Silence.
I continued.
"Where were you when I had surgery at ten?"
"Maya—"
"Where were you when I won my first science competition?"
He sighed.
"You're bringing up old things."
I felt tears rising.
"They're not old to me."
He didn't answer.
I continued.
"Where were you when I graduated today?"
He became irritated.
"I told you something came up."
"What?"
He paused.
Then said, "My girlfriend needed help."
I stared ahead.
His girlfriend.
He missed my graduation because his girlfriend needed something.
I swallowed.
"What kind of help?"
He hesitated.
"Her car wouldn't start."
For a moment, I couldn't speak.
Then I laughed.
Not because it was funny.
Because the truth was so painfully ridiculous.
"You missed my graduation because of a car?"
Raymond became defensive.
"She was stranded."
"And you couldn't call me?"
"I texted."
"After the ceremony."
He sighed.
"Maya, you're being dramatic."
I closed my eyes.
That was it.
The moment everything became clear.
For years, I imagined Raymond had complicated reasons for being absent.
Work.
Money.
Bad luck.
Family disagreements.
But the truth was simpler.
He didn't prioritize me.
And I had spent years punishing Arthur for Raymond's choices.
I took a breath.
"Raymond, I need space."
His voice hardened.
"From your own father?"
I looked through the hospital window.
Arthur was somewhere behind those doors.
"From someone who keeps promising things he doesn't do."
Raymond scoffed.
"You'll regret talking to me like this."
I felt a familiar pang of fear.
Then I remembered Arthur's words.
Being your father has never depended on you being grateful every second.
I took a breath.
"I'm not discussing this anymore."
I ended the call.
My hands trembled.
But I felt lighter.
Mom approached.
"Was that Raymond?"
I nodded.
She looked worried.
"Are you okay?"
I swallowed.
"Not really."
She wrapped her arm around me.
"That's understandable."
I looked toward Arthur's room.
"Mom, why did Dad never tell me how much the college payment cost him?"
She sighed.
"Because he didn't want you worrying."
I nodded.
"But he needed money for the shop."
"He did."
I looked at her.
"Can he still open it?"
Mom hesitated.
"Not right now."
My chest tightened.
"How much did he lose?"
She looked uncomfortable.
"Most of his savings."
I stared at the floor.
Then I made a decision.
"I'm going to get that money back."
Mom frowned.
"Maya."
"I mean it."
She touched my arm.
"Your father didn't help you because he expected repayment."
"I know."
I looked at her.
"But I don't want his dream disappearing because of mine."
Mom studied me.
Then nodded slowly.
"Then we'll figure out a way that doesn't require you to sacrifice your education."
I took a breath.
"Okay."
That evening, I began researching scholarships on my phone.
Local foundations.
Nursing associations.
Community grants.
I had already received an academic scholarship.
But there might be more opportunities.
I also checked whether Briarwood offered deferred housing deposits, work-study programs, and additional need-based aid.
For the first time, I wasn't simply waiting for Arthur to solve everything.
I was looking for solutions.
Then I remembered something.
My high school counselor, Mrs. Thompson, had once mentioned a community scholarship funded by a local medical foundation.
I had never applied.
The deadline was months earlier.
But perhaps there was an emergency assistance program.
I sent her an email explaining that my family had experienced a medical emergency and asking whether she knew of any resources.
I didn't expect an immediate answer.
But ten minutes later, my phone rang.
Mrs. Thompson.
"Maya?"
I answered.
"Yes, ma'am."
"I heard about your stepfather."
My eyes filled.
"He's stable."
"Thank goodness."
I swallowed.
"Mrs. Thompson, I need help."
Her voice softened.
"Tell me."
I explained the college payment.
Arthur's savings.
The shop.
The medical concerns.
She listened carefully.
Then she said something unexpected.
"Maya, did you ever receive the scholarship packet I sent in March?"
I frowned.
"What packet?"
"The one for the Briarwood Community Scholars Award."
My stomach tightened.
"I don't remember seeing it."
She sounded surprised.
"I sent it to your home."
I stared at the wall.
Then I remembered Raymond visiting us in March.
He stayed for less than an hour.
He asked questions about my scholarship offers.
He looked through some mail on the kitchen counter while Mom prepared coffee.
I had forgotten about it.
Now I felt a chill.
"Mrs. Thompson, how much was the award?"
She hesitated.
"Up to twenty thousand dollars per year."
My heart stopped.
"What?"
"It was competitive, but your grades made you an excellent candidate."
I couldn't breathe.
"Why didn't you follow up?"
"I did. I sent an email, but it bounced back from the address listed on the form."
I stared at my phone.
The address on my school records had been correct.
At least, I thought it had.
Then Mrs. Thompson said, "Maya, there's something else."
I swallowed.
"What?"
"The foundation contacted me because they received a withdrawal request under your name."
My blood ran cold.
"What withdrawal request?"
She took a breath.
"Someone informed them you were no longer interested in the scholarship."
I stood so quickly that Mom turned.
"I never withdrew."
Mrs. Thompson became silent.
Then she said, "Maya, I think we need to find out who sent that message."
I looked toward Mom.
My hands began shaking.
Because suddenly, the money Arthur sacrificed might not have been necessary.
And someone may have deliberately kept me from receiving help.
I thought about Raymond.
The mail.
The scholarship questions.
The way he always seemed interested in what money might be available.
Then I remembered something else.
Three months earlier, Raymond asked me to sign a document.
He said it was for a college savings account he had started.
I signed it without reading carefully.
May you like
Now I felt sick.
Because I had no idea what I had actually signed.
