Chapter 67

Mom had been the reason I had made it that far, but she passed away before the finals. I made it to the international level. I flew all alone to Chicago, where the event took place only with Ms. Bridget, my class teacher. Mom was my coach and mentor. Dad had to beg Ms. Bridget to take me there with all her expenses paid by him. The competition started immediately at 9 am. It was the longest day of my life. The competition started with almost everyone bubbling in happiness except for me. The cooking competition left me feeling confused for the first time. I’m completely lost in where to start.

“I was so confused that the timer went off without me touching any of my ingredients. I could not make a single dish during the competition. That was the most humiliating time of my life. Out of frustration, I ran out of the auditorium to nowhere in particular.”

“I wanted to be far away from anyone else. It was during that time that I saw a cliff. Under it was a deep ocean. One thought came into