Muriel has had her life sculpted and figured out by her well-renowned defense attorney father since she was a child. His Moto: Head down, do your schoolwork, be the best, and always do the right thing.
But what happens when she catches her father wi...
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Age: 18 Ollie age: 17
PART 2 of 3, SEPTEMBER (2 months after the African Mission trip)
"What do you think, Mur?" Gemma asks beaming from where she stands in our shared room at the Thomas house. She rocks back and forth holding the material of a beautiful black cocktail dress. It fits snug on her lanky body and the stilettos she's wearing look more than only 19 years old.
I fix my glasses and tilt my head smiling keeping my thoughts to myself just to tease her, "What? What is it?" She asks turning to face me with a stern set to her pretty face.
"Nothing." I giggle and sit up from my stomach on my bed, "You look perfect."
"Oh, well, just tell me that next time." She lets out a quiet breath of relief while I giggle to myself again.
"Oh, my days!" Maggie exclaims loudly as she enters our room, her face already full of makeup. "You gorge, Gem!"
"Thanks! I'm excited to see you in your dress, it was beautiful on the rack."
"I know, I haven't tried it on yet since it came back from the tailor. You know me, I like to live on the edge." Maggie says as the two best friends begin to laugh and gush over their appearances giddy for the fundraiser tonight at Albert's Hall.
My fidgeting fingers begin to play with the plastic beads around my wrist and my chest both warms and crumbles as it does every time I've looked at the bracelet since the day Jokia tied it around my wrist.
Since that day, something inside me changed. I know in my profession I'm going to see death all the time, but I can't help but fixate on Jokia and her mother. Craig requested I see a therapist about the death and that seeking counsel is part of the profession as a Doctor and Humanitarian but talking about it isn't what I want to do. I haven't revealed, even to my family, how I came about this bracelet or who it came from. And frankly, I don't want to tell them. I feel almost protective over it somehow.
"So, Mur." Gemma asks undressing from her lounge clothes and steps inside the dress then pulls it up to her shoulders while Maggie zips up the back, "Are you sneaking out with us?" The mischief plays on both their faces and it's nearly contagious...Nearly.
"I don't think so." I chuckle and begin to fiddle with the bracelet.
"Told ya'," Gemma rolls her eyes and returns her attention to the mirror.
"C'mon, your 18, who gives a shite." Maggie prods while I become even more sure that I will not be setting myself up to get in trouble with dad. Sure, I'm 18 but I can still be grounded.
"No way. Dad is way too excited for this fundraiser and beside's I'll be meeting with Doctor Mackenzie tonight, I can't sneak out." The trust is dad has a 'meeting' set up with his friend Doctor Gregory Mackenzie and he has an opening for an internship at one of the most up-and-coming hospitals in the world based in Sydney, Australia. From what dad has gathered is they are looking to hire on a trauma Doctor in 8 years time, which is exactly what I'm studying for. The job sounds like a dream and the location sounds like heaven. I will not be screwing it up by sneaking out with Gem, Mag, and Ollie. No doubt this is his idea, afterall.
