Just Breathe

Chapter One

Seventeen year old Emilia Nadal Miranda was burning the midnight oil, taking another SAT practice test in the comfort of her Cardiff, Wales bedroom. It was the third she had taken that week, but she was determined to increase her score each time. Luckily, school hadn't started yet for the year so she had plenty of time to devote to studying. Too much time, according to her mother, but she always thought Lia overdid it.

She and her family had temporarily moved to Wales in May so her father could film for a new show on HBO, His Dark Materials. They'd gotten there early before shooting so they could get settled. The plan was for Lia to join her NYC classmates remotely while they were away. She'd return in person when they moved back.

Lia let out a heavy sigh as she re-read the passage she was on. Her eyes darted to the timer. Twelve minutes left. She forced herself to refocus and read the question again.

She finally decided on C and moved on. Six questions left. She could do this.

Lia heard footsteps in the hallway and identified them as the slow, steady steps of her father. Her mother's feet were usually much more hurried. Most likely chasing after a toddler. She froze as the footsteps passed, hoping he wouldn't notice her desk light on.

They slowed and she heard a knock. "Dammit," she muttered, then louder said, "Yeah?"

Lin-Manuel Miranda opened the door and adjusted his eyes to the light in his daughter's room. "What are you doing? It's 2:30 in the morning."

She didn't have time for this. He should know how important SAT scores were. Lia was desperately trying to get into MIT, her mother's alma mater, which was next to impossible. Despite her near perfect GPA (that B from Mr. Martin freshman year was still a thorn in her side), and holding spots on the debate team, school newspaper, and chess club, it was still pretty iffy.

"Dad! I only have eleven minutes left!" She complained, feeling like she was about to snap. "And it's still 9:30 in New York!"

Lin crossed his arms as he moved closer and checked her screen. Another practice test. "I don't think jet lag is still a thing when you've lived somewhere else for three months." He shook his head, "You need to chill. What teenager does SAT prep in the middle of the night during summer vacation?"

Oh, he knew well. His teenager.

"I do!" She confirmed. "Now will you please go? I love you, but go!!"

"Don't you have a Skype call with your guidance counselor at nine?"

"Time difference. Two p.m. here."

Lin rolled his eyes and kissed the top of her head. "Finish this then head to bed. Your mom is going to need help tomorrow with the twins, and you need to be alert for your meeting."

She gave him a thumbs up, hoping it would shoo him off. Sleeping a full night seemed wasteful to the driven teen. She got so much done during the night while the rest of her family slept. Tomorrow she would meet with her counselor to verify her schedule for her senior year at Hunter College High School. She needed her Fall semester to be strong. It would be the latest data MIT would see.

Lin told his daughter he loved her and left her to finish. Whether she did what he told her was a 50/50 chance. Like her mother, when she wanted to do something there was no shutting her down. At times it was a good thing, but it wasn't always healthy.

Lin sighed as he walked back to his bedroom. Two year old Sebastian had woken up from a nightmare and he'd just finished getting him back to sleep when he saw Lia's light. As he climbed back into bed, his wife Vanessa stirred.

"Everything okay?" She asked groggily.

"Seb's asleep again," he told her. "But your oldest daughter is not."