9.16.2009

Heartbreak.

"Miss," he said one early Tuesday morning.

"...Excuse me, miss, can I ask you a question?"

I hesitated, half-awake and in no mood for games.

"Um, sure," I replied as I slowly moved toward him, nervously twisting my ring.

"I just kinda want your opinion," he continued.

"Oh. Well...okay." I folded my arms self-consciously.

"It's like this, see," he said. "I...uhhh...well, I've been thinking lately...about going to school?"

"That's awesome!" I replied, relieved, arms falling by my side.

"Yeah, I mean, it's just, well, I gotta pay the bills, you know? So, I just can't go full-time. And I--well, I just don't know how to do that. How to make it work. Seems like college just isn't made for regular people these days," he said.

"Yeah, it is tough for sure," I said sympathetically, leaning in.

"Yeah. And, well, lately, I mean, I've thought a lot about pharmacy..."

He spoke quickly now, apologetically, eyes darting.

"...how I'd like to do that, I think, and I don't know...I mean, I think maybe I could be good at it?"

"Oh yeah? Cool!" I smiled.

"Yeah. And I guess I was just wondering--"

His eyes pierced mine.

"--do you think I am shooting too high?"

2 comments:

kimberly said...

oh sara. this hits home. my students.

lauren said...

Gosh, you can just feel his heart in your hands when he asks that. I can't believe how much power we each have to help each other fly or fall. Thanks for sharing this story.