This meet was everything. A win meant a full scholarship to a top uni

ed machine. But I knew Nicole Clark, my "sister," would be there t

a perfect, wealthy family coming to support their perfect, polished daughter. They surrounded

y, in my standard-issue high school

me. She stood by the fence, her face be

named Ethan, walked past Maria. He

riend. "Smells like poverty. Can't believe we

nk, I crossed the distance between us in three

I demanded, my voi

ed. "Let go of

" I said, nodding

over. "Jocelyn! What is the meani

" I said, not letting g

? I am your mother! How dare you defend t

ncern. "Jocelyn, please. We're all just a

essive, uncivilized outsider. They were the

alm but her eyes full of fire

d softly. "I don't need an apolo

ould be ashamed. Not of her, but of yourselves. You don't

queeze. "I'll be in the s

rm. The damage was done. In their eyes, I had proven that I was ex

n us. And for the first time, I felt a profound s