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My brain melted into my pillow. I’d vowed to get my degree and not assume that hockey would provide the life we all needed. Hell, if I wasn’t focused on getting my degree, I could get my signing bonus now and hire a full-time nurse for my mom to move home and a nanny for my siblings. But I’d promised my mom I’d finish. It was her dream for me to become a nurse and have a backup plan.
I had to finish for her in the event she became herself again. She’d always loved me and was proud of me, but this felt like more. I had to make her proud, and that meant powering through this regardless of how hard it was.
Just thinking about my mom motivated me in a way that was hard to describe. She knew why I couldn’t visit her, or at least I hoped she did. It gave me the boost I needed to get some work done, but before I got started, an email popped open from AHawthorne.
I clicked.
Hi, Theo,
I read the first study and found it fascinating. The challenge question at the end really had me thinking, so I found a few books at the library, and wow, we have so much to learn! It was honestly fun exploring the stacks for it. I included a detailed synopsis for you below, along with a few scaffolded explanations to the challenge question. I hope it helps you somehow.
I’ve been thinking about Penny and Daniel. If you have to choose between hanging out with them or reading, pick them. I’ll read all the stuff for both of us.
I’m going to the library tomorrow afternoon for the pathophysiology study. I’ll send more notes for you then.
Thank you again for the ice cream. I can’t recall the last time I did that with anyone. I’m sure my face didn’t show it, but I really enjoyed it.
Best wishes,
Audrey Hawthorne
I scanned the notes she sent and exhaled so hard I choked on my own breath. Her notes were so detailed, so helpful. She’d scanned her own handwritten notes, and my god, her handwriting was beautiful. Was that weird? Did people think that about handwriting? I did though. It was her own font. Hawthorne. That sounded like a font people would choose. It was better than Comic Sans by a landslide.
Her comment about my siblings made me think she was lonely and then guilt hit me for not even trying to win her over. “Fuck.” I rubbed my face with my hands, an itchy, unpleasant feeling dancing down my spine.
This was the second time she’d done something unexpected and nice for me after claiming to hate me. It didn’t add up. It sent mixed signals, and I didn’t know what to do.
I could at least respond.
Hi, Audi 5000,
Thank you for the notes. You’re a lifesaver.
I’ll owe you more ice cream then.
T
There. That was quick.
Oh shit. She responded instantly.
You don’t owe me anything.
Yes, I do. These are the best notes I’ve ever seen, and I’m exhausted. I read that challenge question, and my brain almost fell out of my skull.
Theo, that’s not possible. And you’re dramatic for a hockey guy.
For a hockey guy? I smiled as I emailed back. Her responses were so unpredictable I honestly enjoyed it. My life was chaos, but each day was like dropping a deck of cards. My issues would be one of the fifty-two options, but it would follow a pattern. Her though?
Wild card.
Yes, for a hockey guy. You should know better being a nursing student.
You’re no fun.
Theo,
I hope you get some rest this weekend. See you Tuesday.
