Awakened
He handed me the heavy, glass-encased award, and for a second, the weight of it nearly tipped me over.
"Well deserved, Ms. Vance," he whispered.
"The world isn't ready for you."
I turned to the microphone. The applause died down, replaced by an intensity that made the air feel electric. I scanned the gallery until I found her. Lurii was standing, her hands pressed to her mouth.
I cleared my throat, my voice trembling only slightly.
"I didn't get here because I’m a genius," I said, the words echoing off the high, vaulted ceilings.
"I got here because someone loved me enough to let me fail until I finally learned how to fly. This award isn't mine. It belongs to my sister, Lurii."