Chapter 5

 

Opportunities

 

Melissa

 

 

A few days after I sat on the beach, I realized I needed to stop feeling sorry for myself. I listened to my heart and opened it to new possibilities. I still wanted to attend Northwestern, but that wouldn’t happen this semester. I needed a path to living my dream. I decided to take the fall term off from college courses and work as much as possible to build my savings. I might not be able to get a fully paid scholarship, but there were opportunities for grants, students loans, and partial scholarships. I was willing to chance one semester off in return for a longtime dream. In the event that the spring term brought rejection, then I’d concede that it wasn’t meant to be, and I needed a change of direction for my future.

Regina came through with a job offer from Peyton’s company, Harrison Imports. I was hired to work in the mailroom. She made sure to tell me I wouldn’t receive any special treatment. In fact, I probably would have to work harder than anyone else since she’d pressured Peyton to find an opening. I didn’t expect a free ride or special treatment. I just needed a foot in the door to prove I was capable.

I delivered the mail to the lower offices at Harrison Imports, and someone else was responsible for the upper floors, which housed the executives. The job was boring and tedious but paid well, and the hours allowed me to babysit at night. A few weeks before my eighteenth birthday, my life hit another bump. The knock sent me on another emotional ride that rocked my self-esteem. I’d lied to myself if I believed I’d overcome the rejection of Northwestern—I’d just buried the pain.

All the hurt and self-doubt crashed back when I ran into a former classmate, Meagan, at a local restaurant. She and several of her friends sat a few tables over. At one time we had been close, but that all changed when Northwestern became my only focus. She waved across the tables, and I did my best to pretend not to see her. Meagan was determined. She walked over to our table, with a fake smile plastered across her face. I had the feeling she’d picked the short straw, which left her responsible for getting the scoop on the fallen valedictorian.

“Melissa,” she said.

“Hello, Meagan.”

“I’m surprised to see you here in Myrtle Beach during the fall semester. When are you going back? You must be so happy that you were accepted.”

I smiled at her.

“I remember that Northwestern was the only college you wanted to go to when we were in school. Maybe we can get together when I’m up there next week?”

“Yeah, um, I decided to take the fall term off,” I lied. “I needed a little break and wanted to spend some time with my mom.” I knew that she knew, and anyone she told would know that everything I said was a big fat lie.

“Oh, w-well,” she stammered. “I need to get back to my friends. I just wanted to say hello. It was good to see you.” She passed our table and headed back to her group of friends.

“Mom, can we go?”

My mother saw the pain in my eyes and nodded to the waitress to bring the bill. I heard the snickers and remarks as we walked by them. “OMG, she didn’t get in.”

The laughs I heard cut me deeply, and a shadow of a doubt would linger within me, influencing future decisions. That’s when I realized the agony of the rejection letter wasn't gone, just buried. I’d sugarcoated my failure with hope, which was only another failure on my part because I’d actually believed that lie… until I didn’t.

The short visit with Meagan showed me how cruel and callous people could be. After that, I withdrew from the outside world. The only time I left the house was to go to work. Harrison Imports kept me occupied during the day. It was the nights that were longer with the lack of sleep I maintained. The little bit I did sleep was thanks to an old-fashioned alarm clock that still ticked away the minutes. Just as some counted sheep, the clock's ticks were my salvation, lulling me into sleep.

I’d learned that life wasn’t fair, and since I’d run into Meagan, life became even more mundane and boring. From eight to five, I delivered mail to offices, and the rest of my time I spent in my room alone. Every day was the same until I received a text on my way to my car after work.

 

Unknown number: Happy 18th birthday. Wishes do come true.

Me: Who is this?

 

When no one responded, I figured it was the wrong number. My birthday had been a week ago; the message should include ‘belated’ if it were for me. Placing my phone in the cupholder, I noticed an envelope on my passenger seat. Confused, I looked around my car to see if anything was missing. The letter was the only thing out of place, and I knew my car doors had been locked when I left. My instinct to secure the door kicked in, but that was stupid. If someone got in once, that person could get in again. I looked around the garage but didn’t see anyone; even the other coworkers who’d left when I did were now gone.

First, the text and now some strange envelope placed neatly on my car’s seat. I stared at it like it was a snake ready to strike. It took me five minutes to get the courage to pick it up. Once I did, I flipped it back and forth. It was thick linen paper with my name scrolled across the front in black ink, written in old calligraphy font. The back was sealed with red wax with an engraved "I" impression. Ten minutes of inspection and I still hadn’t opened it. I wasn’t sure why I was afraid. Finally, I slid my index finger under the wax, popped the seal, and found a second envelope devoid of writing. Inside the second envelope was a folded letter. Carefully, I pulled it out, feeling that if I moved too fast it would explode on impact.

 

Dear Miss Summers,

You have been chosen along with several other candidates for a second opportunity to attend Northwestern University. I work for a company that helps young students achieve academic success by matching future employers with potential employees. All of our clients provide financial support that includes a fully paid scholarship and room and board to students who have shown great promise toward the future.

One of our benefactors has become aware of your circumstances and would like to give you the opportunity to complete your studies and achieve the education of a lifetime. We respect the privacy of our benefactors, as well as possible clients and employees. Therefore, we will not divulge the name of the company nor the benefactor unless you’re chosen as the recipient of the scholarship.

To be considered, we require an extensive interview that will take place in New York. All of your travel expenses will be paid, along with financial compensation for your time if you agree to meet with one of our agents. Please know that not all applicants will be chosen; however, based upon our research, you appear to be a viable candidate for this program.

Our company prides itself on the successful matching of future client and employee. Please contact me, Karen, at 646-XXX-XXXX immediately. We look forward to hearing from you.

Best,

Karen Flores

 

What the fuck was this?

I sat in my car and burned the letter into my memory. This shit had to be a joke, but why would someone fuck with me? The better question was who?

I crumpled the paper and threw the letter on my floorboard. And then I began to reconsider. What if wasn’t a joke? What if Northwestern was in my future?

I needed to find out if this was real. If it wasn’t, someone went to a lot of trouble to fuck with me. I uncrumpled and stretched the paper three more times before I dared to call the number.

Once I found the nerve to call, I dialed and hung up a few times. By the time I finally called and connected with the person on the other end of the call, my heart was pounding and my hands shaking. I had so many questions I wanted to ask. “Why, who, and how did this company know about me?”

I was certain that this entire setup had to be a prank, but I wasn’t about to take the chance that it wasn’t. The letter, if real, could be the only solution, the only way for me to attend Northwestern. In the small amount of time I’d been working, it was obvious that I would never be able to save enough money for a university like Northwestern. Whatever this was, it could be my last opportunity to fulfill my dream. One way or the other, Northwestern’s doors would either be opened for me or slammed in my face. I couldn’t not call. I needed to find out what my future held.