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Back Counting Down with You Save as PDF
Chapters (64)
  1. Cover
  2. About the Author
  3. Praise
  4. Booklist
  5. Dedication
  6. AUTHOR’S NOTE
  7. Part 1
  8. 1
  9. 2
  10. 3
  11. 4
  12. 5
  13. 6
  14. 7
  15. 8
  16. 9
  17. 10
  18. 11
  19. 12
  20. 13
  21. 14
  22. 15
  23. 16
  24. 17
  25. 18
  26. 19
  27. Part 2
  28. 20
  29. 21
  30. 22
  31. 23
  32. 24
  33. 25
  34. 26
  35. 27
  36. 28
  37. 29
  38. 30
  39. 31
  40. 32
  41. 33
  42. Part 3
  43. 34
  44. 35
  45. 36
  46. 37
  47. 38
  48. 39
  49. 40
  50. 41
  51. 42
  52. 43
  53. 44
  54. 45
  55. 46
  56. 47
  57. 48
  58. 49
  59. 50
  60. 51
  61. 52
  62. 53
  63. 54
  64. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

When she glances our way, I know she’s looking at Fatima, but I can’t help but feel like her dark gaze is aimed at me.

“I’m proud of you,” I whisper to Fatima when her mother finally looks away.

Fatima gives me a hug so tight that it’s almost difficult to breathe. “Thank you,” she murmurs.

I squeeze back. “You’re so inspiring,” I say, low enough that it doesn’t reach past her ears. “Thank you.”

Little things are starting to add up. Nandini and Cora’s encouragement. Ace’s kinship. Dadu’s support. Fatima’s bravery. I’m not alone.

Hours later, after Fatima and her family leave, Dadu and I are cleaning up the dining room and she says, “What you said today was very kind.”

I glance at her as I wipe down the glass table. “What did I say?”

“To Fatima,” Dadu says, analyzing me. Her expression is more withdrawn than usual. “That you’re proud of her.”

I bite my bottom lip. “She has so much courage.”

Dadu sighs, looking down. “So do you, Myra,” she says. “I wish I could do more to help you kids. All of you have such big hopes and dreams and I want you to accomplish all of them. I’m starting to realize it’s not as easy as I thought.”

I blink in surprise. “What do you mean, Dadu?”

Dadu shakes her head gravely. “Our family. There’s so much wrong here. I wish I knew what to do.”

For the first time, I’m at a loss when it comes to my grandmother. All my life, she’s been this confident, strong figure I’ve looked up to. I’ve never seen her this dejected before.

I don’t know how to help.

“You’re everything right with our family,” I say. I’ve never been more certain of anything in my life.

“No, Myra.” Dadu smiles weakly. “You are. I can’t wait for the day you realize it, too.”

36

T-MINUS 11 DAYS

Midland High has a different energy when school is out. It’s calmer, somehow. I didn’t expect to find myself here on the Wednesday of spring break, but when Samir knocked on my door this morning, asking if I was still coming to his robotics competition, I couldn’t bring myself to say no.

Maybe it was because of the way he was fidgeting awkwardly in my doorway, or maybe it’s because I’ve never missed one of his competitions before. Even now, sitting in the bleachers, the thought of missing one leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

The competitions are year-round, and this is the fourth one. Our school is hosting, and twelve different high schools have crammed into our gym. The judges are near the bleachers, handing out points for visuals, presentation, functionality, team spirit, and whatever else.