Emily made herself used to the life of a medical college as weeks turned into months filled with lectures, studying into the night, and attending ward rounds. Of all the subjects she had attempted so far, the surgical rotation under the mentorship of Dr. Harrison was, without a doubt, the most gratifying, if somewhat difficult experience, she had had in her academic career. His lectures were practical, well-organized, to the point, and nothing but the content itself. He had a talent for deconstructing difficult issues into elementary concepts that she could grasp fast, which is why during these classes, she literally paid attention to every utterance made by him.
About two weeks into the semester, there was an announcement that this title 'the Best First-Year Student' would also be examined, and in her mind, a flame of self-will began to grow. Defeating competition was only a part of the appeal for Emily, there was always a great chance of learning from Dr. Harrison, which made the competition worthwhile. Being a student close to someone of such a profound professional background made perfect sense to Emily. But then there was a less reasonable, much more persuasive side in her that was excited by the idea of being able to be alone with him more instead.
However, the bitter truth of her life away from college did not let her rest with equal intensity. When the day turned into night and the sun concealed itself under the horizon, her attention was no longer directed toward her books and the classroom but rather to dimly lit areas and the sound of glasses being clanged. The strip club she worked at was an altogether different place, a place which she had been taught to be careful and resourceful. Most of the time, she wore her outfit, painted a cheerful face, and endeavored to perform her duties without any incident.
One day while getting ready for her shift at the club, Emily felt the old familiar weight of fatigue settle in her bones gradually. She had been getting ready for the exam for quite a long time, preparing every single day with ward rounds, and it was beginning to weigh in on her. But neither was she in a position to let this go because all the pennies mattered when it came to meeting her bills and keeping aside money for Liam's education.
All was loud raucous laughter and the clinking of glasses. Tables were being served, trays were served and cleared and most of the time, Emily kept herself working away. Then from somewhere in the bar, looking at how the customers were nestled, she condensed a tray ready to take the orders. It was then that her eye caught some more people who were just coming in the club. Her heartbeat went a little sticky inhaling the frame that was leading the rest, a figure of canvas-chiseled broad shoulder, who was Dr. Harrison.
Watching from the bar's edge, I could tell that he was having a good time with his friends. They walked over to a quiet table in the corner while sharing some laughter. The girl at the bar must have been his girlfriend because she was too close to him. She was glued to the television, watching him speak, and his faint smile crept up as he spoke.
But so did many other sentiments. Surprises were almost lurking in shock, but she couldn't fathom where exactly anger started and embarrassment began. Dr. Harrison however struck not in his clinical uniform, but in a typical saw picture was most disturbing.
While Emily's hand gripped the tray, her heart started beating fast – she was supposed to take that table. She felt panic rising in her throat and imagined approaching him and waiting for him to spot her and in all likelihood know who she was. No.First, she wasn't ready for that kind of meeting here and second, even the clothes she wore were work clothes.
Emily's friend, Mia, saw that she wasn't moving and came to her rescue, looking worried. "Are you okay? You look like you've just woken up from a slumber."
Emily grinned and turned her head to point at the table where Dr. Harrison was, her voice too low for emission. "Can you take that one? Please, take that one!"
Mia arched her eyebrow and turned to the table but into a space sparing group a little. "Sure thing, Em."
Thanks to this, Emily bent down behind the bar and made sure she was out of the vision completely. She focused her attention on her tasks, aiming to wash glasses on the rack or refill orders but was looking at the table more times than she had to. Dr. Harrison appeared to be quite relaxed, chuckling at something one of his friends uttered with a looser attitude than what she'd ever witnessed in a clinical environment.
Their discussion was cut short by Dr. Harrison's group, which Caroline led to the table. A long sigh escaped her lips as the tension from being in front of someone was no longer a concern. Now, as she was about to grab a glass from the shelf, she felt an odd sensation—a prickle at her neck that suggested someone was staring at her.
With hesitation, she looked back around herself and, much to her shock, saw Dr. Harrison staring at the desk from a different side of the room, locked eyes with her at this very moment. He was at the door, glaring in her direction. Then, she dropped her sight, her heart racing and millions of questions forming in her head. Has he seen her? Or did he simply tilt his head in her direction?
Meanterine: A Searing Focus
The episode has perturbed Emily. Although she assured herself that he had not seen her face, a very small part of her was doubtful. As it got later into the night, she began reliving the encounter in her head, continually troubled by the sense of discomfort it had caused her. By the time she phoned off for the day, all her muscles complied, as if she wore a coat made of fatigue, but not her brains. In her head, Dr. Harrison's face was repeating itself over and over again in an irritating loop.
The following day, there were no doubts in Emily's mind as she walked into her classes. She had managed to lose the exam in one of the encounters, and she wanted nothing more than to win that exam. Perhaps, she winced in thought, it would serve that purpose. She wanted to be noticed by him in terms of effort, not just the shadow of an old photograph.
With the exam date creeping, Emily rededicated herself to preparing. More than anything, she focused on Dr. Harrison's detailed instruction and blocked out all distractions, which allowed her to stay well-prepared for the demanding sessions. His promise made her focus on the potential for future benefits, which was something she could look forward to even with her busy schedule of work and classmates' gossip.
What day, Emily thought as she closed her eyes and crossed her arms. Today is going to be a monumental day in my life as I step into this room and what I do in the next couple of hours will be decisive. It will honestly propel me force beyond my abilities.