The Acceptance Letters

The first letter came on a Tuesday.

Luke stood in the doorway, holding the envelope like it might bite him. "It's from UW."

Daniel looked up from his laptop. "Open it."

Luke swallowed and tore the edge. His eyes scanned the page—then widened. "I got in."

Daniel grinned. "Hell yeah, you did."

The next one came two days later. Then another. And another. By the end of the week, Luke had five acceptance letters spread across the kitchen table, each one a potential future.

Daniel picked up the one from Oregon. "This one's your top choice, right?"

Luke hesitated. "Yeah."

"But?"

Luke ran a hand through his hair. "It's far."

Daniel set the letter down. "So?"

"So—" Luke gestured vaguely at the apartment, at Daniel. "What about you?"

"What about me?"

Luke scowled. "Don't do that."

"Do what?"

"Act like you'll be fine."

Daniel sighed. He leaned against the counter, arms crossed. "I will be fine. Not great, maybe. But fine."

Luke didn't look convinced.

"Look," Daniel said. "Lila left you that money for a reason. She wanted you to have options. So pick the one you want, not the one you think you're supposed to."

Luke stared at the letters. Then, quietly: "What if I pick wrong?"

"Then you transfer." Daniel shrugged. "Or you drop out and become a fisherman. Or you move to Peru. The point is, it's your choice."

Luke exhaled. "You'd really be okay if I picked Oregon?"

Daniel smiled. "I'd be pissed if you didn't."