bright moon

My High School Sweetheart Got into Harvard, I Ended Up at State

My boyfriend, Liam, had this golden ticket to Harvard, like he was born to wear a crimson hoodie. Me? I landed at State, a perfectly okay school, but a far cry from the Ivy League.

To even try to be on his level, I went nuts studying for the GRE, aiming for a Master's program at Harvard.

The year I bombed the test, we broke up. I ghosted him, blocked him on everything.

He went off to do his PhD, and I started slinging street food – those greasy, delicious hot dogs you can find at any corner.

Then, out of nowhere, Liam's friend, Mark, spots me. He looks like he saw a ghost. “What are you doing here? Liam's been tearing his hair out trying to find you.”

I didn’t even look up from the griddle, “Starting my own business. You wanna buy in? Three bucks for one, five for two.”

01

I was haggling with a customer when I heard Mark’s voice, hesitant, “Is that… Sarah Miller?”

I was too busy flipping dogs to pay him any mind.

Mark’s eyes scanned me, then took in my hot dog cart, the portable fryer. "What in the world are you doing? Why did you just disappear back then? You know Liam’s been going crazy looking for you?”

Finally, after sending off the last customer of the rush, I could take a look at him. It took me a second, but then I put a name to the face. Liam’s classmate, another Harvard brainiac.

“Entrepreneurship, baby! You wanna invest? Three bucks a dog, or get two for five. Since you’re an acquaintance, I’ll give you a special: three for ten.”

Mark looked taken aback. He was decked out in a tailored suit, carrying a briefcase – exactly what you’d picture when you think of a corporate climber. And that clashed with me and my street food cart.

He stared at me for a beat, probably feeling awkward. He ended up buying three hot dogs. "Liam’s back in the States. You gonna see him?"

I brushed him off, "Nah, no way. I'm rocking the community college vibe, how could I possibly hang with the PhD crowd?"

02

Liam was a total genius; everyone around him was, too. Especially this girl, Olivia, his undergrad mentee, who was smart and gorgeous. All the school events, academic competitions... Liam and Olivia were always the co-hosts. They were like some perfect power couple. Liam admired her a lot, never held back the praise.

Me? I was the “dummy” who didn’t have any ambition. Each time I tried to see him, it was like some spy movie – meeting at a hotel down the block. He was embarrassed by my school, embarrassed by me.

So, when I mentioned I was planning to apply to Harvard for grad school, his friends practically had a laugh riot. “Maybe aim a little lower, Sarah. Harvard’s a tough nut to crack, you don’t want to waste a year.”

Liam gave me this look like I was a total alien, his brow furrowed. “With your brain? You’re way out of your league.”

When I failed the GRE, our breakup was a done deal. I cut all contact. He went on to Harvard for his doctorate, and I started selling hot do...