The Truth

Week 7: Monday

Around 1 ½ years ago

There's no way that's the answer. I did everything right, what am I doing wrong? I lay all my notes across the table, not caring how much space I'm taking up. I look through it all frantically, trying to find the exact day we went over another problem just like this. I came up with nothing, so I end up with my head to the table.

"Having a rough time?" a voice asks from behind me. Kind of embarrassed of my little outbreak, I turn around slowly to see who it is. A smile automatically makes it onto my face once I see Mikey. "Oh, am I happy to see you. I'm stumped and could use a bit of help," I tell him as he goes to sit on the other side.

"I actually brought you coffee," Mikey states while placing the cup down in front of me. I quickly get up and run around to his side of the table to give him a hug. "Oh Mikey, thank you! This means the world to me," I say as I wrap my arms around him.

He laughs as I go back to my chair. "As a senior, I know very well what first semester finals for a Freshman feels like. I believe in you Mel, I helped you study for this all semester," he reassures me before beginning to take out his notes for his own finals.

                                                                                      ___

Every free chance I get at work I check to see if my professor updated the grades. When the moment comes, I walk over to Mikey. "Check my grade, I can't look," I say while shoving my phone at him. He takes my phone and looks at it briefly but doesn't display emotion to give me any kind of hint on what I received. "Are you ready?" he asks. I nod my head slowly and look away from him. His arms are around me and I'm being spun around as he tells me, "You got an A!"

I wrap my arms around him now and can't help the smile that's on my face. After everything with Jared, something good finally happened to me. I have Mikey to thank for everything. He never gave up on me, even though I wanted to drop the class. Actually, he never gave up on me for anything.

As I go to walk back to my tables, I turn back towards Mikey and say, "Thank you. After the events that happened, I was down and didn't see any hope for my classes. However, you were there for me the whole time. So, thank you Mikey for everything. Let's meet up after work and I'll buy us dinner." He shoots me a smile while commenting, "You were worth it and I'd love to. Always."

Present Time

It's been two days. I've tried to reach out to Mikey, but it always goes to voicemail. The thought of laying here in bed and never getting up crosses my mind. It feels like my life fell apart when I thought I was piecing it together.

Mikey was one of those people I thought I'd never lose. He was someone I depended on for multiple things in my life. I tell myself if I ignore the Brandon problem, I can fix my Mikey problem, but trying not to think about Brandon isn't helping. I have a class with him in an hour. Finally deciding to start my day and face Brandon I pull the covers back.

As I reach class, I get a few glances from people. It's normal to not care about your appearance for class in college, but I really took it to another level. I didn't brush my hair and simply pulled it back in a bun, not thinking about how I haven't washed it. I'm not wearing makeup and I'm still in my sleep shirt. I did change into sweats though, but my shoes are my house slippers. I sit down in my normal seat when I see Brandon enter the class.