I hadn't seen my friend Jake in months. We had met at Uni where we took an anatomy class together. We both had aspirations to become doctors but the studying was too much for Jake who decided physio might be a better fit for him. Jake was a good looking guy he had that rugby player physique. Around 6"4 with broad shoulders he got plenty of action with the ladies. Probably one of the reasons he struggled to study.
"How have you been man?" I said as I took a seat next to him at the local pub. "Its been far too long"
"Stevie my man, I have been good brother" Jake replied. Tapping my glass with his. "cheers"
"cheers" I said.
The next few hours flew by as we caught up and talked about our studies, our love lives, our sports teams and all the other nonsense blokes chat after 5 pints and a few rum and cokes. It was almost time to call it a night when Jake leant forward with a serious look and said "Can I tell you something Steve"
"Of course man, anything, are you ok?" I enquired matching the seriousness in his voice.
"I'm struggling dude" he said looking at me with a defeated yet half drunk look in his eye.
"what? You seem so happy though. you cant be suicidal" I responded by placing my hand on his arm. "Man I am always here for you"
"errr suicide. What you talking about. I just mean with my uni work" he said leaning back a bit.
"Oh thank fuck." I laughed as I pulled my hand away. My drunk ass went to worst case scenario.
"It's not funny man. I cant remember any of these goddamn muscles for my massage unit and I only have one attempt left in this semester before I need to resit the whole thing next year."
"Ok" I pondered. I knew Jake I know how he learns best he is a doing kinda person. Books and things aren't enough he needs to actually do the things he is learning.
"I can see your brain working Steve" Jake was looking at me. He knows i can help. He knows I know anatomy. I am the only reason he passed that unit in his first year.
"I have an idea, what if tomorrow or sunday I swing by yours and we can practice the massage on me as you move over the muscles we can discuss what it is and thing's" I looked up at him.
"That could work" he replied.
"All right man. Call me tomorrow morning and we can set up a time" I stood up and stumbled out the door.
The next morning I groggily woke up around 9am. I gulped down a glass of water. Mourning the fact that I can no longer drink the way I could when I was 19 i checked my phone to see 4 missed calls from Jake. I called him straight back. He answered right away. "Hey Steve. thanks for calling me back. You having a busy morning"
"No dude I just woke up" I mumbled as i tried to sit up without passing out.
"oh shit sorry man. I have already been out for a run and a coffee" He laughed.
"Of course you have" I was a bit short over the phone "whats up?"
"Are we still on for this massage study" Jake enquired.
"The what?" I replied. No idea what he was talking about. Jake proceeded to tell me how he had told me about his study trouble and how I had offered to help.
"Ahh shit man. I don't remember that at all" I said sheepishly feeling the anxiety wave crash over me.