- 8.
Time was passing.
But my time was going backwards.
I forgot so many things.
I forgot the plans I used to make for the
future.
I forgot the good times I had with Sarah.
I forgot those quiet days at the hospital,
trying to make my dreams come true.
I forgot all the hard work I put in during
college, studying medicine.
All I remembered was that I had this dream
that I could never reach.
Everyone kept telling Jess and me that I was
doing better that I wasn’t as moody
doing better, that I wasn’t as moody.
But I had a feeling that it was almost over.
One night, Sarah snuck in, hoping to see me.
She found me by the window, silhouetted by
the moonlight.
I looked like I’d aged ten years, but my eyes
were innocent.
I was rambling about human anatomy, but I
couldn’t remember who was standing in front
of me.
She looked worn out. Hearing me, she started
to tremble.
“Dan…”
She stopped, realizing what she’d said. She
opened her mouth, then closed it.
“Mikey… I’m sorry…”
I looked around, confused, and said, “Who are
you?”
That broke her.
She fell to her knees, sobbing.
She crawled forward, grabbing me, begging
me not to forget her.
She wanted me to remember her.
I pushed her away, my chest heaving.
I didn’t know why.
I didn’t know her, but every cell in my body
was telling me to stay away.
“Who are you? I don’t know you.”
She held up something.
It was my old medical textbook, the one my
mom gave me. She’d found it in the alley and
pieced it back together.
I stared at it, excited, but then I pushed it
away.
“That’s not my book. My mom gave me the
best medical book in the world! Where did
you get this garbage? Don’t pretend it’s
mine.”
<
I was mad, like a kid.
“Mom said I’d be the best doctor, and I will
be!”
“Hey! You hear that?”
She stared at my left arm.
How could I be a doctor if I couldn’t even
stand in an operating room?
Sarah finally realized that we were over.
Did she ever love me?
Maybe a little.
Sarah thought she was being nice to keep me
Г
But I told her, I would die if I couldn’t be a
doctor.
