The girl who once felt invisible was becoming a respected voice in the department. Meanwhile, Lily and I maintained a cordial but distant relationship. She would occasionally invite me to sorority events or campus activities, which I nearly always declined due to work commitments.
We rarely discussed our dramatically different college experiences, maintaining the surface level conversation that had characterized our relationship since childhood. Our parents called Lily weekly but reached out to me only for major holidays or family emergencies. During one Thanksgiving break, when I couldn’t afford the trip home, mom texted, we miss you at dinner, but we understand you’re busy with your projects.
The ellipsis spoke volumes about how they viewed my choices. Despite their continued dismissal, my academic performance was becoming impossible to ignore. I made the Dean’s List every semester, received departmental awards, and was invited to present at a regional business conference.