I groaned and fell back into the couch. “Why do all your assignments include reading and writing?”
“Because it stimulates the brain.”
“My brain isn’t the muscle that needs stimulating.”
Dr. Conway shot her palms over her ears. “No, you didn’t say that. I didn’t hear it.”
I laughed, and she re-took her seat in her swivel chair, recovering from my comment. “Have you thought about what you want to do once you leave here? Will you continue school?”
“Haven’t given it much thought.”
Ollie and I had made plans. We’d talked about his dreams of publishing his poetry, traveling across the world, and giving back to those who went without. We’d talked about my dreams of watching him fulfill his because truth be told, Ollie had been my dream all along. That was until he took it all away from me. Though he was gone now, my plans of running away with Ollie were still in motion. One more year left at Dolor, and I would find him and remind him of what we had.
“I want you to start thinking about it. You have your whole life in front of you, Mia. By the second semester, I can help you apply for colleges in the states.”
“Thanks.” I ran my hand over the front of the fuzzy journal. The shade changed as my fingers swiped down, then lightened as they swiped back up. I did appreciate Conway’s offer, but I didn’t want to go back to Pennsylvania. There was nothing left for me there.
The UK became my home.
Ollie was my home.
On my way back to my dorm, footsteps sounded behind me. Each time I paused and turned around, the noise stopped. After waiting a moment, I continued again. The footfalls started shortly after, growing louder and closer together with each step I took. My feet picked up the pace and I snapped my head behind me right before I turned the corner when I slammed into what felt like a brick wall.
My notebook fell to the floor, and strong hands grabbed my elbows to keep me steady. “Whoa, darling,” a low voice said.
Glancing up, Jude peered down at me with pale blue eyes and my arms in his secured hold. My muscles tensed. “Sorry, I thought I….” My head whipped around to see nothing behind me, and I shook my head. “I don’t know. I thought I heard someone behind me.”
Jude released me and took a step back.
“What are you doing on my wing anyway?” I asked, crouching down to pick up the notebook. “You’re in second wing,”
Jude shook his black hair from his face and lifted a shoulder. “I got lost.”
An awkward silence loomed over us as Jude’s eyes kept me pinned in place.
“Everything alright over here?” Ethan’s level voice came from behind. He laid a hand over my shoulder. “Jett? Is he bothering you?”
I swallowed. “No, I—
“Just looking for the loo, mate,” Jude interjected.
Ethan withdrew his hand and pointed behind me. “Your loo is that way. Different wing. And I’m not your mate.”
Jude dropped his chin and scurried off around the corner.
I turned to face Ethan. “You didn’t have to be so rude, you know. I ran into him.”
Ethan’s gaze followed Jude, watching intently. “He had no business being down here.”
“He was lost, Ethan.”
Ethan’s eyes shifted from Jude’s back to me. “Don’t call me Ethan.”
“Okay,OfficerScott,” I blew out air, “I’m starting to think you should be a patient here instead of an employee.”
Ethan pinched his brows together and his eyes bounced between mine. Without giving him a chance to reply, I turned and walked away.
Over the summer, Ethan and I spent many nights together, talking until the sun came up. Our conversations typically consisted of differences between the states and the UK, television shows, and music. I’d learned Ethan was only a few years older than me, but he hardly talked about himself. He mentioned he had to complete a year here to advance in his career. Out of all the institutions, he was stuck with Dolor.
