I want to tell Gabriela about this moment, but I know she will judge it harshly, and then it would be tainted. I let Gideon know that I’m going to send my application tonight, and that I’m not even going to ask my parents to weigh in on the essay. I know it could piss them off on an epic scale, but they were the ones who asked for authentic, and I’m worried this level of honesty will scare them. The essay is too personal. Gideon nods his head in agreement. We say our good nights, and as soon as I leave our Zoom meeting, I take a deep breath, say a prayer to my late grandma, and click the Submit Application icon. Before I can scream or cry or break into a dance, there’s a knock on my door. I glance at the clock. It’s too late for anyone else to be awake.

“Parisa, can we come in?” It’s my parents.

“Yup,” I say.

They open the door and walk in. My dad’s eyes are all red, and I can tell he’s been crying, but that’s not necessarily cause for alarm. The man cries every time we see that Amazon ad with the golden retriever and the baby on TV.

“What’s wrong?”

My mom’s shoulders slump when she answers. “It’s about Andrew.…”

From: Principal Jackson ([email protected])

To: Principal Jackson ([email protected])

Date: Feb 16, 2023

Subject: Andrew Nanaka

To Our Winchester High School Family,

It is with an incredibly heavy heart that we write about the passing of one of our own, Andrew Nanaka.

As many of you know, Andrew contracted the ademavirus last month. His family notified us yesterday that he lost his battle. We are as devastated as we are stunned.

Andrew was a senior at Winchester and student body president. He excelled in all academic areas and was a star player on the basketball team and a talented member of our marching band. He was an environmentalist and an activist. He was loved by all who knew him.

This is a huge loss for our community. We will be holding a virtual school-wide memorial for Andrew, time and date to be determined. We will also provide grief counseling for parents and students.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns. Anna Abrams, our PTA president, has asked that families who are interested in participating in a meal train for the Nanakas reach out to her directly ([email protected]).

Together, we will get through this unfathomable loss.

Sincerely,

Principal Jackson

Gabriela

Hey. I tried to FaceTime you. I’m literally in shock.

Parisa

I know. I’m crying too hard to pick up.

Gabriela

I haven’t been able to stop crying all morning.

Parisa

Me too. How could this happen?

Gabriela