Rafael sat in the wooden chair, barely daring to breath. Just past his 12th birthday, Raf was on that precipice between childhood and maturity. With his knees pressed together, his hands clenched tight, an almost imperceptible tremor of his body and the stark contrast of his wide eyes standing out in bas-relief against his pallor, Raf was more terrified than excited to be participating in the prestigious scholarship program.

Each scholarship specified paired the recipient and the prestigious private school that they must attend. Since Rafael was to attend The Princess Academy, he knew that there had been a mistake because he was a boy and his scholarship would now be revoked.