Selena felt her pulse pounding in her ears as Dr. Dominic adjusted his glasses, looked at the papers on the table, and finally spoke.

“Candidate Selena Herrera has successfully defended an outstanding doctoral thesis,” he announced clearly. “The committee’s recommendation is unanimous approval, with honorable mention and immediate nomination for the faculty’s prestigious research award.”

For a second, the words didn’t even register. And then came the applause—starting like a distant rain, growing into a roar. Rebecca hugged her tightly, and someone whispered the word “doctor,” which was then repeated by another voice, and another.

The whole room seemed to revolve around that single, powerful word that no one could ever take from her again.

She had won. Despite the kitchen, despite the scissors, despite the locked bathroom, the cheap motel, the borrowed scarf, and the cruelest night of her life.

Then she saw him.