Judges don't normally hug competitors.
Something was happening.
I looked back.
Michael was staring at Noah.
His brow furrowed.
He heard the surname.
Hartley.
But plenty of people shared names.
His eyes moved toward me.
Then back to Noah.
Confusion.
The next category began.
Physical Sciences.
Third.
Second.
Then:
“First place…
Nathan Hartley, Westbrook Regional High School.”
I made a sound somewhere between a laugh and a sob.
Nathan went to the stage.
Michael sat perfectly still.
Rebecca leaned toward him.
I couldn't hear what she said.
Then the master of ceremonies raised a hand.
“One additional recognition.”
The crowd quieted.
“This year, the judges identified one performance across all competitive categories achieving the highest combined raw evaluation score in the history of this state program.”
Applause began before the name.
“The 2026 Governor’s Scholar Award goes to…”
Pause.
“Nathan Hartley.”
Nathan covered his face.
Noah jumped up screaming.
I was crying now.
I didn't care.
The entire Westbrook team was shouting.
Nathan returned to the stage.
The governor’s education commissioner shook his hand.
A photographer turned him toward the audience.
Nathan searched the crowd.
Then he found me.
And grinned.
That grin belonged to Michael.
Not vaguely.
Not symbolically.
Exactly.
The left corner rose first.
One dimple.
Head tilted slightly.
I had seen Michael make that expression a thousand times when we were young.
Behind me, someone inhaled sharply.
I turned.
