Anything I can do to help?
Andrew
This? Talking to you helps.
He adds a half-smile, half-sad face emoji, and a small part of me cracks under the guilt of him having a rough day.
Grace
How about an after-work pick-me-up?
I think about my message before adding,
Grace
As friends, of course.
Andrew
What did you have in mind?
Grace
There’s this new ramen bar near my house that I’ve been wanting to try out.
How about I order some to-go, and you can talk more shit about this juvenile boss of yours while we eat at my place.
I consider my offer. Wedidagree on this friendship thing. I’m definitely not breaking any rules by inviting him over. We’djust be having ramen while having a small venting session. And after the day I’ve had, I’m sure I need it just as much as he does. Suddenly, the idea of carrying everything I’ve been bearing during my workday home doesn’t feel as daunting as it normally does. Because I’d be offloading it to someone who would sit there and listen while slurping away at his warm, savory noodles. I’ve finished convincing myself to stick with my invitation. To not go back on it and look forward to a night with a friend when I receive a response.
Andrew
You’ve got a date.
A FRIEND date.
Just as expected, my half-eaten lunch remains unfinished by the time my break is over. I toss its remains into the trash, suddenly looking forward to dinner. A dinnernoteating another frozen dinner like I planned.
I plan to spend the remainder of my day catching up on charting and discharge follow-ups. When I return to my desk, I find a small chocolate cake in a plastic disposable container. It’s from the cafeteria, made obvious by the addition of a few coarse brown napkins, but there’s the addition of a little yellow sticky note on it. I pluck up the note and read it with curiosity.
Your guilt trip worked. I’ll try a motorized cat toy to wear them down instead. Thanks for the tip.
— Noah
Not Dr. Santos or Dr. Noah. Just Noah.
Even though I find myself rolling my eyes and shaking my head, the smile on my lips shows a far cry from vexed.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Andrew
“I’m confused,”Grace says, her bewildered focus on her TV screen. “So, this is the first movie, but it’s called Episode IV?”
“Yes.”
“And there’s an Episode III, but it came outafterthis one?”
“Yes.” I watch her. The way her question feels like it should be followed by a comical head scratch. Or how, no matter how stumped she seems, she can’t seem to peel her eyes away from the movie.
