I feel stupid for getting blinded by those crazy dreams, when it’s so obvious where I belong: at the bodega. I’ve known this for a while, but as I sit in the dark theater, it starts to feel more real—the fact that working at the store is no longer something I do to help out my parents. It’s something I do because I need to. And if I manage to keep the business running, who knows? Maybe Sophie will actually have a chance. Maybe she’ll be able to go to college and do all the things that it’s too late for me to do now.

As much as the realization brings deep sadness to my chest, it also brings a feeling of relief. I no longer have to worry about SAT scores, and my GPA, and college applications. I’ll get to focus on the only thing that truly matters—looking after my family.

And so, when the play ends and the cast takes a final bow, I get up from my seat. I join Kimmie and Darryl in their standing ovation, telling myself that I’ll be happy for Adam, because he deserves this, and because if it was me up on that stage instead of him, he would be cheering me on, clapping for me until his hands turned red.

“You were amazing.”

“Really good job, man. Seriously.”

Adam’s eyes seem to sparkle. “Did you really think so?”

Kimmie and Darryl nod quickly. “Definitely.”

“No one could’ve done it better than you,” I say. Even though we’ve been bathing him in compliments for the last few minutes, he blushes a little when I say that.

“And the play itself?” Adam asks.

There’s an awkward pause. I swear, for the briefest moment, Kimmie looks directly into my eyes and makes a face, but then she turns toward Adam and smiles.

“So good.”

“I already want to see it again,” I add quickly.

“That goodbye scene at the end?” Darryl lets out a low whistle.

“Back onstage in ten minutes for a surprise, everybody!” yells out a girl who’s wearing a headset. All around us, people turn to look at her. Everyone is chatting, and smiling, and moving from one group to another to say hi to people.

Darryl lifts his eyebrows. “A surprise?”

“It’s just cake.” Adam chuckles. “I gotta get out of this costume first, though.” He’s been saying that to people for almost half an hour, but between us, his parents, his brothers, and all the other people coming up to him to congratulate him, he hasn’t had a chance to step away from the spotlight even for a second. “Do you guys wanna come with me? I can show you my dressing room.”

Kimmie and Darryl turn to look at each other.

“We, uh…”

“I should probably…”