Chapter 17:
………..
The email came at 6:47 AM.
I was still awake—hadn't slept, couldn't sleep, the mark on my neck pulsing every time I closed my eyes—when my phone buzzed with a notification from the university.
Subject: Financial Aid Update — Urgent Action Required
I almost ignored it.
I'd been ignoring emails for days. My inbox was a graveyard of unread messages—professors asking where I was, the coffee shop asking when I'd be back, Maya sending me memes at 2 AM because she didn't know what else to do.
But something made me open this one.
Dear Elena Marsh,
We are pleased to inform you that your application for the Wolfe Legacy Scholarship has been approved. This scholarship covers full tuition, housing, books, and a monthly stipend of $5,000 for the duration of your academic care
