Everlasting Bonds - COMPLETE

Chapter 58

 * Don't press play on the video right away. I think you'll know when the right moment is ;) *

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POV: Lark

"That's all for today's class. Enjoy your break and try to make some headway on your final projects. They are due two weeks upon your return", Vera said as she wrapped up her lecture.

Her dark blonde hair was pulled into a twist at the back of her head and the gray hairs she had looked like silver highlights. There was a quiet elegance about her that always commanded attention from her students. If anyone else had been teaching this course, I likely would have stopped paying attention after the first week.

Beside me, Luka was finishing up his notes. Initially, I had been concerned that having him in class with me was going to be a distraction, but he surprised me. He never tried to talk during lectures and he usually was the one to remind me to take notes about assignments if I had spaced out. Luka loved to laugh and he loved to make others smile, but when it came down to it he could be just as serious as anyone else.

Most of the class had filed out by now, many of them had likely packed up even before Vera dismissed us. "Emily", she called over to me. "Can you come here for a moment please?" I nodded to let her know I heard her request before turning to Luka. "Do you want to wait for me outside?", I asked him.

He had finished his notes and was now packing everything away into his leather backpack. "I'll go grab us some coffee from across the street". He squeezed my hand before making his way out of the lecture hall, leaving just Vera and myself.

"What can I help you with Professor Bianchi?".

"Please Emily you know I prefer to be called Vera. I was hoping to schedule a meeting with you at the end of the semester. You are still interested in testing out of the lower level Italian courses, yes?", she asked as she pulled a grey overcoat onto her shoulders.

"Yes, I am still interested. Would you like me to utilize your office hours to make it easier for you?", I offered as I followed her out of the room.

We stopped just outside the door and the lack of students in the hallways only solidified how ready people were to leave for the extended break. "No", she said. "I was hoping you could meet me at my off-campus office. I prefer to do most of my work there as it's bigger than the one the university gave me and our meeting might run long. How does 3 pm sound? Let's say the day after your final?".

I agreed and she sent me on my way with a promise that she'd send me an email with the address closer to the date of our meeting. I was excited to speak with her in a one-on-one setting and even more excited for the possibility of joining her advanced classes. Vera's native language was Italian, and she spoke about the country in a way that made me forget all the horrible things that happened to me there.

Someday I think I'd want to go back and make new memories. But that wouldn't be for a long long time.

I stepped outside and was greeted with a gust of wind that tangled my hair and unraveled my scarf. When I met back up with Luka, the hot drink he passed to me was a welcome reprieve from the chilly air.