The Heart-Shaped Emblor (The Ewlishash Series) Read Online Free PDF Page A

different in size. The two weren’t even the same shade of silver. That must have been why the key was inside the box. I gave up, setting both aside.
    Before I put everything away, the letter needed one last look. Grams clearly stated that she had a vision of me opening the letter around my current age. Obviously, I needed to research that in more detail.
    My vision, if that was what I’d had, showed me something in the past. But maybe visions worked both ways. Twice in the same day, the word “vision” had come to me, which had to mean something.
    I spent the rest of the weekend researching, sharing very little with my roommates about what happened with Jaden and Cooper, and trying to move past my vision. No matter how angry I got with either of them, I couldn’t bring myself to write them off. Maybe my vision had been good for something, even if it was just to hold compassion. They both did what they did for a reason, like it or not.
    My decision left Mel, Kyle and Evan quite irritated with me, but what could they do about it? I’d made up my mind; I wasn’t dumping my other friends. They would have to learn to live with that.
    By evening, I decided to venture outside. The sun was just setting, and it cast an orange haze on the side of the house. I sat under the maple tree in the backyard, listening to the sounds of the koi rustling the water in the pond and the chickadees bathing on the edge. The smell of lavender filled the air, and thoughts of my dark-haired friend drifted to the forefront of my mind.
    No matter how understanding I was toward Cooper, a part of me still longed for someone who loved me. Someone who I could share what I saw with, who would protect me from the harsh reality of my abilities. Every night, I turned to my dark-haired friend, wishing and hoping that he would find me, and fill that void.

3
    DIVERSITY

    M onday morning came too quickly. I had to leave another dream about my dark-haired friend to go to campus, something I didn’t want to do. Mr. Wellner had put me in charge of the upcoming art show, and since I was the youngest person ever for this position, the weight of responsibility hit me like a sledgehammer.
    The fact that both Jaden and Cooper would be at the art show didn’t make me feel any better. Despite Cooper’s surprising apology, I wasn’t looking forward to seeing the two of them in the same room. At least the show was a week away. I had time to prepare for the encounter.
    By the time I arrived on campus my feet felt like weights as I made way to the pottery room. Mr. Wellner expected me to give my ideas on the show, but I didn’t have any yet—and I couldn’t waste any more time. People were all so different. Finding a way to represent them as individuals as well as a cohesive group was not easy. I hesitated before the door and wiped my sweaty palms on my jeans, and then flung the door open.
    “Hello, there.” The corners of Mr. Wellner’s mouth rose, showing his crooked teeth. “How are you this morning?”
    “I’m good,” I lied.
    “Have you come up with any ideas on how to set up the show this year? Any themes? Colors?” He pushed his glasses higher up on his nose.
    Breath caught in my throat as I tried to think up something quick. The heat of nervousness crept up inside me, but the solution suddenly came to me.
    “What do you think of calling the show Diversity?”
    Mr. Wellner nodded, and a smile slowly filled his face. “I like it, but why that?”
    “Well,” I exhaled. “As I thought about all the possibilities over the last couple of weeks, I realized that every time I found a theme or color palette that went with someone’s display, it clashed with someone else’s. It’s my personal belief that our differences make us stronger as a whole. If we all respect that each one of us is a part of the whole, yet still an individual, then we can grow and learn from each other. Calling the show Diversity just makes sense.”
    “Okay,” he agreed.