Summary
Highlights
Mays, the youngest of four, details her upbringing with a busy nurse mother and an attentive lab technician father. She notes her exceptional memory, often being the family 'memory keeper'. Her aunt frequently made disparaging remarks about Mays's mother, leading Mays to spitefully spit in her aunt's cooking.
Mays's mother mysteriously disappears for weeks, claiming to visit her sister. Upon her return, Mays secretly follows her and discovers her mother is caring for a sick boy. Mays learns her mother had been ill herself and isolated to protect the family. This experience inspires Mays to declare her dream of becoming a doctor who treats sick people for free.
Mays attends an all-girls school, where her cousin Saham constantly mocks her and envies her good grades. While Saham dreams of being a model, Mays dreams of studying in the US to become a doctor, a dream her parents support if she maintains good grades.
During an argument with Saham, Mays collapses and is diagnosed with curable bone cancer. She undergoes treatment and recovers, but is left with a permanent limp. Returning to school, she faces pity from classmates but bravely addresses their concerns, explaining her condition and offering to answer questions.
Despite her parents' financial struggles due to her treatment, Mays works hard for scholarships. She catches Saham making out with a boy in an empty classroom but refuses to expose her, leading to Mays's suspension. However, Mays soon receives an acceptance letter and full scholarship to a top medical school in the US.
Mays's family is overjoyed, but her grandmother, influenced by Saham's lies, initially disapproves. Mays's mother defends her and exposes Saham's potential involvement. Later, her grandmother apologizes and gives Mays money for her new life. Mays tearfully leaves for the US, excited for her new adventure.
Mays experiences culture shock in the US but quickly befriends her roommate, Kylie, who offers support and encourages her. During Christmas, Mays experiences holiday traditions with Kylie's family. When Kylie has to leave, Mays is heartbroken, but then her sister arrives, having been inspired by Mays to pursue her master's degree at a nearby college.
Mays concludes by reflecting on her journey, acknowledging the difficulties and obstacles she faced. She emphasizes that with hope, passion, and patience, she managed to overcome them and is now in her second year of medical school, achieving her dream of becoming a doctor.