章 90: THE ATTIC

I hadn’t been in the attic in what felt like forever—maybe not since we moved to Redsfield Estate. The place was dusty as hell. As I descended the creaky wooden stairs, I coughed multiple times, swiping at the cobwebs that clung to my face and hands.

I was working on my college application letter, and, like every other college out there, Columbia University had asked: "Who are you? Describe an experience, challenge, or moment that has significantly shaped who you are today. How has it influenced your goals and aspirations, and why do you believe this university is the right place to help you achieve them?"

No matter how hard I tried, everything I came up with felt scripted, cliché, or just… blegh. But I remembered my mom once telling me that my dad had written the perfect college application letter. She didn’t have one herself—she’d never gone to college—but my dad’s stuff was all packed away in the attic.

And so, here I was.