Escaping My Brother’s Shadow

On the day I graduated as the top student in the entire state, my parents threw a lavish celebration at a local banquet hall, inviting more than a hundred relatives and family friends.

However, the seat of honor at the head table did not belong to me. It belonged to my older brother, Ethan Smith.

A huge banner stretched across the room.

[Congratulations to Ethan, Our Amazing Son, for Raising the State's Top Student!]

Balancing a plate of food in my hands, I slipped into a seat by myself in the corner.