"Stephenson, I have good news, I got accepted at the medical school on the island of Dominica, All Saints University Medical School," Fawziyyah Sharaf said excitedly, and the short, curvy, brown-skinned and raven-haired young Egyptian Muslim woman practically jumped up and down. So this is how it ends, Stephenson Vladimir thought bitterly, even though he smiled at Fawziyyah and appeared to be sharing in her enthusiasm.
"Congratulations, Fawziyyah, I'm happy for you," Stephenson replied, and he swept Fawziyyah into his arms, hugging her fiercely. The two of them stood on the main floor of the Carleton University library, the very place where they met, close to five years ago. Back then, they were two neophytes bestriding the City of Ottawa, Ontario, with their uneasy steps. A couple of international students who found themselves far from home as they began their life-changing higher education journey...
Stephenson Vladimir, the Boston-born son of Haitian immigrants, opted to study at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada, after he failed to get into Northeastern University, his parents Julianne and Marcel Vladimir's storied alma mater. He'd only been to Ottawa once before, to visit his paternal cousin Deborah Vladimir who was getting hitched at the time. Disappointed with the American higher education system, Stephenson decided to study as far from Boston as possible, and came to Ottawa.
At first, when Stephenson came to the City of Ottawa, he saw a dead end, for the town was smaller, and duller than the lively, diverse Boston he grew up in. Carleton University was nice enough, and Stephenson was glad to see so many black and brown faces on this very Canadian campus. He quickly made a few friends, and adjusted nicely to his new surroundings. Still, Stephenson felt like something was missing...until he met Fawziyyah Sharaf.
Fawziyyah Sharaf, a newcomer to the City of Ottawa by way of Al Qahirah, Egypt, simply took Stephenson Vladimir's breath away from the moment they met. He was volunteering with the International Student Center at school, and they assigned him a newbie who needed some help getting things done. That's how Fawziyyah came into Stephenson's life, and she never really left...until now.
"Thank you, habibi, I'm so excited," Fawziyyah said, and Stephenson smiled, and the two of them went for a stroll around campus. It was early April, a year after Stephenson and Fawziyyah graduated from Carleton University with their degrees in Criminology and Biology, respectively. It had been a magical year for both of them, a year that saw them gain their permanent residence cards, and begin to build a new life together in the Capital of Canada.
Having aced the LSAT, Stephenson was trying to decide between various law schools, including the University of Ottawa, York University and Lakehead University. He'd been leaning towards the University of Ottawa Law School, since he wanted to stay in town to be with his beloved Fawziyyah. Nobody else I'd rather be with, Stephenson thought to himself as he sent a letter of acceptance to the University of Ottawa Law School a couple of weeks ago.
As it turns out, Fawziyyah had applied to the University of Ottawa medical school and, failing to get in, she went for her second option, All Saints University. Stephenson and Fawziyyah made their way to their favorite spot, the benches by the lake, located close to the gym. They sat there, not minding the slight chill, and soaking up the atmosphere, as it were...
"At first I was sad about not going to University of Ottawa, but to hell with them, All Saints Medical School is internationally accredited and just as good," Fawziyyah said, as she leaned against Stephenson's shoulder. Stephenson remained silent, and wrapped his arms around Fawziyyah, who looked up at him, a beatific smile on her beautiful face. I guess Fawziyyah really hasn't really thought this through, Stephenson thought, sighing deeply.
When Stephenson and Fawziyyah began going out, he knew that they were in for one hell of a thrill ride. In Canada as well as the rest of the world, interracial relationships cause tension, in part due to the narrowmindedness of so many thoughtless souls. At the end of the day, black or white, male or female, straight or gay, everyone is human and everyone needs to be loved. That was Stephenson's definitive mindset as far as relationships were concerned...
From what Stephenson later came to understand, in the Arab world, relationships between blacks and Arabs are considered taboo, and the unions of black men and Arab women were unheard of. As Stephenson and Fawziyyah stepped out together, they often got stared at, especially by the Middle-Eastern students on campus. It seemed that those Middle-Eastern guys, many of whom had black girlfriends, white girlfriends and Latin girlfriends, objected to seeing a non-Arab man with one of 'their' ladies.
Never one to be intimidated, Stephenson would stare down any man, pale or dark, who seemed to have a problem with him and Fawziyyah being together. As far as he was concerned, Fawziyyah chose to be with him, and no one had the right to object to their union. In this world, women choose their men, and not the other way around, Stephenson thought. It was astonishing that they'd stuck together for so long, and now the fates were conspiring to tear them apart once again...
"You're going to make a kick-ass doctor," Stephenson said, and Fawziyyah nodded, and then impulsively took his face into her hands. Fawziyyah leaned closer, and smiled, her face inches from Stephenson's. Taking a deep breath, Stephenson closed the gap between them and kissed Fawziyyah. As usual, her lips tasted sweet, plus a hint of those icy mints she was also chewing on. Love my lady and all her quirks, Stephenson thought as he swiftly slid his tongue down Fawziyyah's throat.
"Stephenson, you are so easy to fool, you're going to need me by your side when you start your law practice," Fawziyyah said, grinning mischievously, and she looked at a very flabbergasted Stephenson, who gawked at her. Rolling her eyes and shaking her head, Fawziyyah pulled an envelope out of her hand, and all but brandished it in her lover's face. Laughing, she ripped the envelope open, then deposited it in Stephenson's lap.
"What is this, my love?" Stephenson asked, as he looked at the envelope, which contained a letter from McGill University. Fawziyyah smiled and watched as Stephenson read the letter, his facial expression shifting from anxious, to surprised, to relief, and back to surprised. He looked up at her, his lips trembling, unable to speak. Looks like I finally shut up my favorite future attorney, Fawziyyah thought, grinning wickedly.