bChapter /bb465 /b

    People are remarkably adaptable. Before anyone realized it, the assistant teaching program was alreadying to an end.

    By now, they navigated the mountain paths with ease–iso /imuch so that in the crisp mornings, they even joined the children in a race ito /ithe hilltop just for fun.

    Their youthful presence had breathed new life into the vige. During the school term, they were always surrounded by kids; when school was out, they’d follow the adults into the fields to help with chores or tag along to the market for supplies.

    A vige that was once so quiet now pulsed withughter and energy, all thanks to them.

    But the more lively things grew, the harder it became to face the thought of leaving. Everyone tried to ignore the looming goodbyes.

    “Miss, you’re going home in a week, aren’t you?”

    One evening, after Alessia finished the nightly phone call with Cole and her family, she sat alone in the yard, lost in thought. At some point, Susannah Holt dragged over a chair and settled beside her.

    “That’s right,” Alessia replied, gazing up at the sky, wondering when she’d

    next see so many stars.

    “Miss, I…” Susannah started, picking at her fingernails, searching for words.

    “What is it?” Alessia looked at her gently.

    Susannah hesitated, then shook her head. “Will I ever see you again?”

    i“/iOf course you will,” Alessia said with quiet certainty. “When you grow into an exceptional person, you’ll find me again.”

    Susannah’s mind spun. To her, people like Mayor Warren, Ms. Warren, the teachers who came to help, those who made lots of money, or those who

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    had shelves full of trophies—all of these were “exceptional.”

    “Do I have to win lots of awards to be exceptional?” she asked, thinking that maybe being exceptional always required some sort of proof.

    Alessia shook her head and gently tapped Susannah on the back of her head. “Anyone who keeps moving toward their goals and never gives up is already exceptional. Beyond that, sometimes you just need a little bit

    of luck.”

    “Luck?”

    “Mm–hmm.” Alessia ruffled her hair affectionately. “But don’t worry about that. Just focus on chasing your dreams, and I’ll be waiting for you to find me again.”

    Susannah didn’t really understand what Alessia meant by “luck,i” /ibut she knew that if she tried her best, one day she’d meet Alessia again.

    Even in this age of constant connection, kids from the mountains still had to walk to the market just to use a payphone–two dors a minute–for a precious call.

    “I don’t want you to go,” Susannah whispered, gripping Alessia’s hand. Her voice trembled, thick with tears. She didn’t know when she’d see Alessia again–just like her parents, who hadn’t returned in two years.

    “Life is full of goodbyes,” Alessia said softly. “As long as we get to meet again, that’s what matters.”

    For a moment, Susannah thought Alessia looked like she might cry too. There was a sadness in her eyes that wouldn’t go away.

    “Miss, is there someonei, /iyou can’t see anymore?” Susannah asked.

    Alessia nodded. “Yes, someone incredibly important to me–people who helped me be who I am. But I’ll never see them again.”

    Her voice was so quiet, it sounded as if it floated in from far away.

    In the stillness of the night, only their voices and the asional chirp of crickets broke the silence.

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    12:19

    But life rarely goes as nned.

    “We interrupt this program for breaking news. A magnitude seven earthquake has struck Mapleton Hill in Pinecrest County. The tremors were severe, affecting the surrounding areas… The following viges remain out of contact: Dragoncrest, Willowbrook, Hillside…”

    The sudden announcement hit everyone like a thunderbolt.

    “Hillside…” Karen’s mug slipped from her hands and shattered on the

    floor.

    “What happened? Are you alright–don’t move, I’ll get the broom, just stay there,” Brendan called, emerging from the kitchen to see broken pieces scattered everywhere.

    “Brendan!” Karen’s lips quivered, eyes red and brimming with tears.

    “What is it? What’s wrong?” he rushed to her side, shutting off the stove without a second thought. “It’s just a mug, Karen, no need to get so upset–are you hurt?”