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here?” I asked, snapping awake. “Oh no, I didn’t miss them, did I?” I jumped up in alarm, but then sat back down as a wave of dizziness hit me.
    My mom gave me a reassuring smile and rested her hand on my shoulder. “No, honey, you haven’t missed them. Mrs. White just called to let us know they just turned onto our row.” I had to give my mom credit: despite all the worrying she had been doing all weekend, now that the moment was here, she looked completely calm and as rock-solid as I needed her to be.
    Frantically I flew around the room not sure exactly what to do with myself. “Okay, let’s just stop and take a moment to breathe,” I told my reflection. I did a quick head-to-toe check. Despite a long nap, my clothes were unwrinkled and where they belonged. But I couldn’t say the same for my hair. My ponytail had mostly fallen out and was now a wild crown of static. I must have really been tossing and turning in my sleep. I sat down in front of my mirror and brushed and sprayed my hair back into submission.
    “Ready?” my mom asked brightly.
    “As I’ll ever be,” I replied. Swallowing hard, I forced myself to make my way down the stairs to the front door. Suddenly all my senses seemed amplified. I could hear the crush of the blue carpet under my feet as I walked. The tick-tock of the small clock in the kitchen seemed to boom through the entire house in slow motion. Tick-tock. Tick-tock . My mother’s shaky exhale of breath betrayed the nervousness she had been hiding so well.
    The front door unexpectedly opened and I let out a strangled yelp. Then I saw my dad walk into the house.
    “They just left the Carlsons ’ house and should just be getting to the Levensons ’ house now.” He stopped mid-stride as he saw the expression on my face. “Oh, honey, it will be fine,” he promised as he crushed me in a bear hug; the kind of hug he hadn’t given me since I was ten.
    “I know,” I fibbed for his benefit. I hugged him back to help him think his reassurance was helping me. I knew they were both trying their best, but the little things just kept betraying how nervous they were for me. As a result, I couldn’t help but feel even more anxious.
    I closed my eyes and tried to focus on the sound of my breathing, a meditation trick that I had never quite mastered. I slowed my breathing down to an even, relaxed pace – or as even as it would go, anyway – and began to reassure myself. Byron and I had been at the top of our classes every year. I had done well on my testing. In fact, the testing had been surprisingly easy – nothing like I thought it would be. So there was no reason I should be nervous. I should feel confident – no, excited , about getting my assessment letter. Getting a purple letter wasn’t an unrealistic hope for me. In the next few minutes I may very well be on my way to becoming a science teacher.
    Ding-dong.
    My heart skipped. They were here. I felt giddy excitement take over, and I somehow knew that everything would be fine. More than fine: on the other side of the door my perfect life awaited me. I’d have wonderful job and a house with a private yard of its own. Eventually I’d have a couple of healthy and extremely bright children. Best of all, I’d happily grow old with Byron.
    “Hi!” I brightly greeted the carriers as I opened the door.
    “Uh, hello?” the carrier stuttered. “Are you Miss Alexandria Paige Scannell ?” he asked hesitantly. My unexpected demeanor must have thrown him off.
    “Yes I am,” I practically chirped back at him. He smiled warmly and held up the iris scanner. As soon as it beeped its confirmation he handed me my letter.
    “Good luck,” he said before he and his assistant turned to leave.
    Slowly I examined the iridescent envelope in my hand. The opalescent rainbow of colors that shined off of it was mesmerizing. I ran my fingers over the silver lettering of my name and address – it was slightly raised above the rest of the envelope.