On the front steps, Liora listened as her cousin declared, "I'm dropping out." Liora's mouth went dry. "You can't." Her cousin shrugged. "Watch me." Liora swallowed, then said, "If you leave, you're not just leaving school. You're leaving the version of you that wanted more." Her cousin's eyes flickered, and for a second the shrug slipped. They sat in silence. Later, Liora's cousin agreed to meet with a teacher, but only if Liora came too.