"Ok so what are the five principles of implementing a hospital budget?"
...
"Anyone?"
The silver head looked around the class in expectation. "Ah, Miss Vines. Tell me what the first one is."
"Miss Vines?"
Rya's blank expression let the professor know her answer. She opened her mouth to speak, but hesitated. As she shook her head apologetically, Professor Miller let out a deep sigh and glanced at his watch. They were out of time.
"Well... by the looks of Miss Vines; you all seemed to have contracted a case of amnesia. For homework read chapters 9, 10 and 11 from the text, plus the online study material and the additional commentary."
A chorus of groans echoed throughout. Those chapters were really long reads. Rya could feel the accusatory glares all around her. While she was usually the one who knew all the answers, she had completely spaced out in that moment. This was the only class she actually participated in, all the others she made sure she was invisible.
"And I expect an engaging discussion next class... maybe even a quiz." His narrowed eyes lingered on some discontent faces.
"You are dismissed." Sounds of shuffling papers and chairs scraping the floor resonated in the room.
Rya quickly gathered her belongings and tried to make a quick escape.
"Miss Vines, please stay behind." Rya fought the urge to scream.
When everyone cleared out of the room the professor's attention was completely on her.
"Ok, out with it, what's wrong?"
Rya nervously shrugged. "Nothing... Well, I don't know."
The stagnant silence was uncomfortable.
"You don't have to be so hard on everyone." She mumbled, and then nibbled her inner cheek. A trademark sign of uncertainty.
The professor couldn't help but smile. It was a habit she'd picked up as a child.
Richard Miller could never forget when he first laid eyes on eleven-year-old Rya Vines.
Long plaited pigtails swayed anxiously as she waited by her mother's bedside. A hospital was no place for a child. And yet Rya wore eyes of a 70 year-old woman with ease. Resigned to accept whatever came their way.
Working as the Director of Health services at the time, Richard didn't really interact with patients. His job was behind the scenes, ensuring the hospital and staff ran smoothly. Much like the Wizard of Oz he was incognito but powerful; he encountered few problems without a solution.
However at hearing of a young mother's rare condition with only a child at her side, he'd been moved, but mostly curious. When he saw the girl, his heartstrings pulled him right into their room and struck up a conversation with her. Her mother was heavily sedated and so he asked the girl how the facilities and staff were treating her.
Maturity oozed from her very bones as she tactfully told Richard that although the facilities and staff were fine, her mother wasn't. In the end that's all that mattered. Her small hand clutched her mother's weak one as she claimed her position as sole caregiver. There was no one else but her. Her father came around, but wasn't really present in their lives.
Richard melted and felt a sort of kinship with her. He made a point to come by and bring her a lunch or a snack and ask how she was doing. It wasn't enough. Determined to help her further, he called in a few favors and pulled some strings. Rya's mother was chosen to be treated with an experimental drug which she responded favorably to. When she was finally released from the hospital, Rya found herself continuing to visit Mr. Miller whom she remembered as kind and helpful in her time of need.
A friendship was formed. Richard soon discovered that although Rya was extremely mature and serious when it came to her mother's care, in all other things she was almost whimsical. Her active imagination transported her to different worlds she created. Perhaps she did it as an escape from her reality.
Whatever the case, he enjoyed their talks and the time they spent together. His family did too.
His wife, Elaine often joked that having Rya was the easiest birth she'd ever had. Zach their oldest and most stubborn, took 36 hours to finally grace them with his presence. Two years later came the girls. When it become obvious that the twins Madison and Caroline, could not be coaxed out of the womb, they were finally born via emergency C-section. But with Rya... within first couple of minutes of meeting her, they fell in love with and made her part of the family. Even though she didn't actually live with them, Christmas cards and family dinners were never complete without Rya. Among friends and family she was known as their bonus child.
In turn Rya always felt right at home. Her mother, Sondra didn't mind; in fact she appreciated how the Millers had taken Rya under their wing. God knows kind-hearted, generous people were hard to come by. Anything to ensure her daughter of a brighter future. One of the best days of her life was when Sondra saw her baby start college. With her deteriorated condition, she didn't think she would live long enough to see it, but it brought her great joy and peace of mind to know the Millers would there for her long after she was gone.
Richard and Elaine, who was also a schoolteacher, helped Rya with her scholarship applications and essays and were delighted when she received a full ride to some great schools. Although Richard wasn't sure it was the right fit, Rya insisted on pursuing a career in the medical field. He ended up taking a teaching position at a renowned New York college and as luck would have it, she was in his class this semester.
It was odd at first, but they adjusted. Rya wasn't used to this side of him. He was always kind and patient like a surrogate father, not this militant instructor. Her peers had no idea she knew him personally and didn't hesitate to express how much they hated his class. Even though they'd later admit they learned more from him in a month than years with other professors.
Professor Miller sighed. "I wasn't being hard on them. It's imperative you learn the material. But let's go back to my previous question, what's going on with you? You seem off."
Rya held her tongue. Was it that obvious? Ever since meeting Haseem she's been all out of sorts. She tried to keep a straight face. "I'm fine."
His eyes narrowed. She wasn't fine, but he'd let it go for now. He couldn't help but feel overprotective when it came to her. "Alright then, I'll talk to you later."
Grabbing her stuff she hurried out, she didn't want to stay another minute. He had a way of reading her she found unnerving. She didn't know how he'd react to learning about Haseem and who he was. She didn't need him worrying unnecessarily. Rya waved goodbye and made her way to the library. She needed to invest a couple of hours in coursework before her work shift started.
As expected the large library was quiet, with only the chatter of books to fill the void. Rya found her favorite area uninhabited, as always. It was secluded but close enough to see people walk in and out of the building.
A couple of hours later and Rya was content with the progress she'd made. With a book in hand, she slowly walked past the rows of library stacks, looking for its home.
Just before she approached an open area with tables, she stopped dead in her tracks. It was Haseem - the man who'd been firmly embedded in her thoughts and dreams. He sat at a table as he concentrated reading through paperwork.
Quickly, hiding behind a stack undetected, she peered through the tops of the books. She was far enough not to be heard but close enough to see him perfectly.
What was he doing here? How was this even possible? Of all the locations she could see him again this was the last one she thought he'd be. Oh God, was he there for her? She knew it, he told her too much. It had been weeks since that day. She figured he had chosen a different route to avoid her, but now she knew he was just biding time to find her. To send a message that it didn't matter where she went... he'd find her.
And now as Rya's eyes widened and her heartbeat quickened, she wondered if it was fate. She was going to die at the hands of the first person she ever talked to on the train.
She observed him for a moment. He seemed oblivious to her presence. If he was going to kill her, he wasn't trying very hard to find her. That was odd. As she stared at him, it should've been fear gripping her insides, but it wasn't. A current of anticipation swept through her. She almost wanted him to catch her staring.
She shook her head. What the hell was wrong with her? She squint her eyes but couldn't make out what he was reading.
It was probably some top secret plot to capture U.S. homegrown terrorists. Perhaps it was a list of names he'd been ordered to take out personally by the president. He was a hit man, who lived alone and had to change his identity every six months to avoid capture. He was in New York for a couple more months but then moved on to... Chicago. He was at her college because some of those names were currently enrolled students. Rya rolled her eyes; that was ridiculous. Although, she did know a couple of engineering students who were a bit suspicious. Her mouth twitched a smile.
Perhaps it was a plan to get back into his country and save his family members before it was too late. The documents he held were coded letters sent by his only living niece who still lived in Pakistan. In it she begs for his help, as conditions have worsened for her. She has no money and is being threatened by extended family members to marry. She taught herself to read and write in secret and just wishes to one day come to America and see him again. Being the man he is, Haseem would risk it all and save her. Even though if it means his immediate death.
No no no, Rya grumbled to herself. That didn't fit either.
Haseem cleared his throat and his Adam's apple bobbed. She didn't understand why, but she was struck by the motion. She had the sudden urge to run her tongue up his neck, circle around it and gently suck the ridges.
She observed how his tapered fingers held the paper ever so lightly while he intermittently scribbled with the other hand. Focused pupils moved in a straight line as he read along. God, he was beautiful.
His lips softly moved as he read to himself as though it were an incantation.
And it was working.
The spell he'd woven around Rya was so tangible, she could almost feel herself being tugged towards him; completely forgetting about his confession or the fear she felt in her bones. She remained still as her body heat rose. She closed her eyes and recalled last night's vivid dream.
