Dusk Until Dawn

Chapter 20 - Getting Closure

I practically zoomed home after the bell rang. An email from NYU came, and today is the day when I find out whether I made it into my dream college.

I hope I do.

It would be really, really cool if I made it in.

When I got home, I leaped out of my car, and I hurriedly unlocked the door.

"It came? An email from NYU?"

As soon as I opened the door, I saw all my favorite people in the living room. Ivory, Yukina, Mom, Mason...

And Mr. Herbert.

Wow. When did they all get here? I literally sped my way over here.

"You got one from Osaka University, too." Ivory remarked.

I raised my eyebrows on that statement. I thought Osaka University usually sends out their letters around February, but I guess they sent it late in my case for some reason.

Osaka University was my second choice if I didn't get into NYU. It was very close to being my first choice, though. It's also a pretty cool college, and it could help me improve my Japanese speaking skills.

But ultimately, I want to be in NYU.

And I'm about to find out if I made it.

Mom pulled out her laptop. "Which one do you want to open first? NYU, or Osaka?"

"You should do NYU first," Yukina whispered.

I nudged her arm. "Sure. I'll do NYU first. That's why I sped all the way over here, anyway."

Mom laughed as she pulled up the email from NYU. "Okay, are you ready? Here, you sit on the stool."

She got up and gestured towards the stool. I slowly made my way to it and took two short breaths when I saw the "Results" button.

Oh God, I'm so nervous.

Mr. Herbert gave me a thumbs up. "You got this, Maia."

Mason put his hands on my shoulders. "You'll be okay, Maia. Just do it."

I popped all my knuckles, my back, my neck, and my toes. Okay.

Here it goes.

I hovered my mouse over the results button...

And clicked it.

I closed my eyes the moment it started loading, and the silence within the house grew louder.

I heard a few gasps. Did it load?

Oh God, oh God, oh God.

I slowly opened one eye, and eventually opened the other eye.

"Maia, you- " Ivory began.

I covered my mouth and widened my eyes. Oh my God...

I didn't make it.

The word "rejected" was the same font size as the other words, but it still looked like it was the biggest word on the email. It's almost as if it's screaming at me that I got rejected.

I felt Mason massaging my shoulders. "Maia, it's okay. It'll be okay."

I didn't know what to feel inside. I was frustrated, sad, angry, and disappointed in myself. But not because I got rejected by my dream college.

But because of something else.

"Maia," Yukina put her hand on my knee. "It'll be okay. You still got a letter from Osaka University. Your 2nd choice."