The night before my medical school interview, my sister poured bleach on my only blazer, and my parents told me to stop making a scene.

someone laughing down the hall, the squeak of shoes on polished floor.

I pressed my palm over my mouth.

Marlene continued, “You will also receive a financial aid package that includes the Mercer Community Medicine Scholarship.”

I closed my eyes.

Mercer.

My grandmother’s name.

“It is awarded to students with demonstrated commitment to underserved clinical continue reading …