My mother had told me it was not worth the cost of a flight, because Maya had not received any honors.

“She gave the valedictory address for her class,” Mrs.

Ortega said, softly, from the doorway.

A state math competition, which I had not even known my daughter had entered.

“She took second place in the entire state,” Mrs.

Ortega added.

I felt like an empty shell of a man.

My daughter had excelled at everything.