Chapter 2
SOFIA
Discuss three root causes of common health issues affecting the wellbeing of children and families. A smile spread on my lips as I read the penultimate question of my last final for the semester.
The Determinants of Children’s Health class had been one of my favorite electives this semester, and I was blowing through the final with no problems.
Easy. I could think of at least six root causes I’d have been able to discuss in detail. Let’s go for childhood obesity, family disruption, and environmental health problems.
My pen scratching against the surface of the paper joined in the sounds of sighs and the ticking of the clock in the quiet room. The guy next to me kept letting out these annoying little grunts, but I tuned him out enough to concentrate on answering the remaining questions.
As I added the period to the end of my last sentence, I sat back in my chair and praised all that was holy that finals were over. Studying to become a doctor meant putting in long hours, but this week had been ridiculous. I hadn’t even brushed my hair in the last three days.
The tousled beach look I was rocking in my shoulder-length bob hadn’t exactly been planned.
It looked tousled because it really was.
But whatever. Once I got some sleep, I’d worry about personal care.
At least the hot pink headband I wore kept the stringy strands off my forehead.
Besides, I liked the messiness of it. I might even keep it.
I chewed on the end of my pen as I reread my answers. When I was satisfied I hadn’t messed up anything obvious, I packed up my stuff and slung my satchel over my shoulder.
Our professor stood at the front of the class. She was a remarkable woman who always wore power suits when she wasn’t in her scrubs. Her silver hair was twisted into a sleek bun behind her head and her makeup was immaculate.
I looked like a drowned rat in comparison, and it wasn’t just because I’d been up all night studying. She’d have been up all night, too. She just didn’t take shit from anyone or anything. Not even exhaustion could bring her down. Yeah… so, tiny lady crush over here.
I got up, taking the stairs in the lecture hall down two at a time and grinning at her as I placed my paper on top of the stack. “Thanks for everything. I’ll see you next semester.”
“Ms. Cantor,” she said when I started turning to leave, her voice sharp and clear. “Have you got a few minutes to wait? I’d like to speak to you in my office when the others are done.”
“Oh, uh, sure.” My heart bucked, but I couldn’t be in trouble. At least, I didn’t think that was what it was about. “I’ll wait right outside.”
She nodded firmly. “I’ll be out in approximately six minutes.”
“I’ll be there.” Seriously, Professor Carstens was a superhero in her field. I’d have waited forty days and forty nights for her if she’d asked.
The hallway outside was quiet, with only a few students trickling out of their exam venues so far. They hurried out with their books clutched to their chests or with their heads bent close to their friends as they furiously dissected whatever final they had just written.
Everyone in this hall was a medical student, and it was easy to see the toll finals had taken on them. Sallow skin, hair as dirty and eyes as red as mine. A few hadn’t even bothered to change out of their slippers before coming down. Hey, I’m not judging anyone.
My own classmates also slowly started finishing up, coming out of the lecture hall I’d just left with grim expressions on their faces. A lot of them were practically vibrating with stress, pulling their textbooks out and checking on answers while they walked.
I frowned. The final hadn’t been that hard, had it? I was feeling reasonably good about it actually. Just in case I’d missed something, I spent the rest of the time I waited double-checking my own answers.
“This way, Ms. Cantor,” the professor said as she breezed past me. “It will just take a minute.”
Jumping at the sound of her voice, I scrambled to stuff my book back into my bag and caught up with her. She didn’t look at me as she unlocked her door or as she set the stack of answer sheets down on her elaborate desk.
“Have a seat.” She waved a perfectly manicured finger at a chair before moving to her own.
Gracefully lowering herself into it, she brought her clear blue eyes to my hazel ones.
“I won’t take up much of your time. I know it’s been a long week.
You must be dying to join your peers in celebrating your survival of the semester. ”
“Celebrating can wait. The only thing I’m dying for is my bed.” I wound my fingers together in my lap. “Am I in trouble, Professor?”
A flash of surprise crossed her features. “No, not at all. The exact opposite actually.”
She gave me a gentle smile as she relaxed back in her seat. “You’ve done phenomenally well in my class. My colleagues have said the same thing.”
If I’d been standing, I’d have fallen over my own feet—while standing still. I opened and closed my mouth, but no words jumped to mind immediately.
“Thank you,” I said lamely when nothing else wanted to come out. “It means a lot.”
“You’re welcome. We wanted you to know that we recognize your hard work.
” Her gaze strayed from mine for a moment as she pulled open a drawer.
When she extracted her hand, there was a brown paper envelope in it.
“There are application forms in here to join a fast-tracking program. It will require giving up your summer and winter holidays, but you’ll graduate a year early if you do it. ”
“A year?” I blinked too many times. This wasn’t the first time I’d been made an offer like this, but it still came as a surprise. “Thank you. I’ll consider it.”
She set the envelope down and pushed it across her desk with purpose “I hope you do, Ms. Cantor. We don’t offer just any student the option to enroll in this program.
You’ve proven your dedication and willingness to work hard.
You’re certainly extremely intelligent. This program would be a good fit for you. ”
“Thank you,” I repeated.
What else was I supposed to say? I would consider it, but I already knew I wouldn’t be enrolling in the end. I had too much to do this summer, and I had to go home to San Diego. Staying in Los Angeles wasn’t an option for me this year. “Thank you for the opportunity.”
“You’ve earned it.” She gave me another smile as she reached for a pen and uncapped it. “I’d better get to grading these papers. Good luck, Ms. Cantor.”
“Thank you.” God, I was starting to sound like my repeat button was jammed. I picked up my satchel and stood. “Have a good summer, Professor.”
“You too.” She pulled the first final off the stack, opening the front page and letting the pen hover above it. I got the hint. I’d been dismissed.
After hightailing it out of the building, I stepped into the warm air outside. It was a muggy, humid day that instantly made sweat form on my brow.
The midday sun shone brightly, but I had forgotten my sunglasses in my rush to make it out of the dorm on time this morning. All around me, students were laughing and talking in their groups. A few of my classmates tried to catch my attention, but I avoided them all.
The last thing I felt like doing right then was compare answers. I kept my eyes on the path and made my way to my dorm room.
Loud rap music pumped from inside when I got there, and I heard my roommate giggling as she tried to sing along. I smiled as I pushed open the door.
“Hey,” I said above the music. “How was your exam?”
Melody picked up her phone to turn down the volume of her speakers, her shoulders sagging. “I think I bombed it, but whatever. The only thing that matters is that it’s over now, right?”
“Right,” I said, but it was a lie. What mattered was whether we’d passed, not that we’d written the paper. But as she’d said, whatever.
She perked up when she spotted her suitcase lying open on the floor. “At least it’s summer. I’m so thankful the semester is over. I wouldn’t have survived even another week.”
“I don’t know. I like it here.” Prepping for finals may have left me sleep deprived, but school wasn’t too hard. “I would have been okay with staying. So long as it wasn’t for more finals.”
Melody snorted as she hopped off the bed and crossed our small room to her wardrobe. “You would say that. I, for one, am happy to be going home. What are your plans for the break? Staying and taking more classes?”
“No.” I was flattered by Professor Carstens’ offer, but I couldn’t take it. “I have to head back home, too. My dad is retiring. I need to be there for him.”
She balled a shirt up in her hands, giving me a sympathetic smile before tossing it in her bag. “My dad retired last year. Good luck with that. They become like grumpy bears for a while.”
I groaned. “I’m not looking forward to that part. My dad’s been a military man all his life. Retirement will not come naturally to him.”
“I hear you.” She took a step back from the cupboard, nodded as she narrowed her eyes, then went to zip up the suitcase. “Well, have a good summer.”
“Are you leaving already?” I frowned. There was a lot of stuff strewn all over her side of the room. Clothes littered the floor, sheets still covered her bed, and all her odds and ends remained on her dresser.
She followed my gaze, then shrugged as she extended the handle from her bag. “I’ll bring my brothers back here to help with everything else tomorrow. Right now, I just need to get home.”
I nodded dumbly, but I knew she lived only an hour away. Then again, I only had two hours to travel myself.
“I’ll see you in the fall, roomie.” Without a backward glance, she rolled her case to the door and gave me a wave as she walked out of it.
It swung shut behind her, clicking into place with a resounding thud.
Just like that, I was alone in our room for what felt like the first time all year. My dad would be waiting, but I needed to take a nap. And a shower. Once that was done, I’d make my way back to Coronado Island and the military base I called home.