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He walks down the hallway, and I resignup the route, because unfortunately it’s true I promised

ONCE, A TINY eternity ago, I could lie on my couch like any other person I could watch TV, eat snacks, and paint o try on clothes But now that I’ on to the cushions withup, putting shoes on, and running to Josh’s building The effort is h myself doith my laptop on my chest and halfheartedly flick between news sites, my interview presentation, S site

I get a pop-up notification that ed into Skype, and I dial so quickly that it’s a little e and too close

“Stupid thing,” she htens “Smurfette! How are you?”

“Fine, how are you?” Before she replies the screen fills with the fly of her jeans as she stands up and calls out repeatedly to el! Even the fa in hoives up

“Heback down “He’ll wander in soon”

We look at each other for a long ale-force personality propelling the conversation, that I hardly knohere to start I can’t seem to talk about the weather, or how busy I’ve been As her shrewd blue eyes narrow as I choose my words, I realize I’d better ask the question I’ve been torturing myself with for these last feeeks, and perhaps all of o

“Before I was born, and when you ive up your dream?”

The question clangs in the dead static air between her andI really shouldn’t When she locks eyes again with aze is steady and resolute

“If you’re asking ret my choice? No” She sits back into her chair, I sit up properly on the couch, and suddenly it’s like there’s no screen between us No fraely intrusive preview screen distracting us with our own faces I feel like I could reach out and take her hand It’s the closest we’ve been since I saw her last, when I hugged her at the airport and breathed her sha, and the clock is ticking before my dad walks in and interrupts

“How can I regret it for a second? I have your father, and I have you” It’s the answer and the s differently?

“But don’t you wonder where you’d be now if you chose your career instead of him?”

She avoids answering again “Is this about your job interview? Are you worried about what happens if youchance?”

“Soet it, I could lose out on otheropportunities”

“I don’t think you need to give up your drea You want this, I can see it I can hear it in your voice Ti You don’t have to ive it your all”