With Love Elise

Cold Feet

I wake up the next morning with a feeling in my chest. Maybe I'm just overthinking things. It will be fine but why I'm I so scared. I turn to check the time and it's 4am in the morning 8 hours before I have to leave Emicott. I could change my mind and not go. Grandpa would be disappointed but he'll still love me nevertheless and Jully might not oppose the idea. What is wrong with me?
   Elise stands up from her bed and goes to her grandpa's room. She's about to knock when she hears a voice that startles her.
"Can't sleep right?? " Asked her Grandpa
"Grandpa Theo you startled me. I almost had a heartattack" said Elise with a hand on her chest." I'm sorry baby girl c'mon let grandpa prepare his special cup of tea"said Theo with a huge grin
      Elise followed Grandpa Theo to the kitchen where he immediately starts making her a cup of tea. "Grandpa, this is my dream and I've had to stay up so many nights to get that scholarship. Now that I have it I just can't seem to imagine myself in London as a student in Brooklyn College. I thought it would be so simple to leave Emicott behind but now I realize that I get to leave my whole family, a life I've lived for 19 years to start another somewhere strange with people I know nothing about. I don't think I can handle so much pressure" said Elise avoiding eye contact with her Grandfather.
    Theo hands the cup of hot tea to Elise.
"Thank you Grandpa" said Elise
   He sits on a stool beside her and holds her hand.
   "Elise my beautiful granddaughter. You remind me so much of your mother. She was a dreamer just like you. She wanted so much from life but she let fear hold her back. The day she died in the hospital I went to see her. It was like she knew her time had come and she was crying. I asked her why and she said she wished she did everything she wanted to, achieved all her dreams. If only she knew she had a little time she would have grabbed every opportunity that came her way. Elise you're like a star all you need to do is shine. I didn't raise weak girls. We face challenges, we do not run from them. You can do this all you have to do is push yourself from your comfort zone" said Grandpa Theo with a smile. He stroke her hair lovingly and said " imagine where you want to be 5-10 years from now and keep pushing till you get there. You're Elise Emicott Rendell. You're named after our very little town. You alone have won a lot of competitions and medals. You've made Emicott proud and you're not one to disappoint so I doubt you'll start now".
    "Thank you Grandpa Theo I love you" said Elise in between tears. Theo wiped her tears and they both smiled. "Now drink your tea and go back to bed, you have a flight in a few hours. Brace yourself for the adventure my shining star" said Theo. Elise happily downed her tea in a go, hugged her grandfather and went back to bed.
     Theo stared at a framed photo of a young woman and said " I wish you could be here to give them the love of a mother. They've been through a lot already, losing their mother to their father and they've come out strong beautiful girls just like you did. They deserve all the love in the world ".
He wiped the tears that escaped from his eyes and smiled. He switched off the kitchen light and went to bed

Hours Later
"Woawwwww, London is just as pretty as they say it is" said Elise as her taxi car drove past.
"You can say that again" said the taxi driver. No other words were exchanged. Elise reached Brooklyn College at 9am that morning. It was a long flight and she was exhausted. All she wanted was to settle in and take a long nap.
    The taxi driver helped drop her luggages at the hostel before driving her to the admission building. She paid him and he drove off after a polite Thank you. Elise walked into the  building after taking deep breaths and chanting her favorite mantra " I can do this".
She approached the receptionist and said, " Good morning ma'am I'm Elise Emicott Rendell. I'm here to see Mr Devon. I have an appointment for 9am".
"Good morning Elise, Mr Devon has been expecting you. Take the elevator to the 2nd floor. His office is the fourth door on the right "said the receptionist with a smile.
"Thank you ma'am" said Elise returning her smile.
    It wasn't hard to locate Mr Devon's office. His name was plastered on the door in big letters. She knocked politely and went in.
"Good morning, You must be Elise? " asked a man in his 40's
" Good morning Sir, I'm Elise Emicott Rendell. It's a pleasure to meet you Mr Devon. I apologize for my lateness it was a long flight" said Elise standing
" That's fine I know how far Emicott is. Where are my manners please have a seat" said Mr Devon. Elise takes her seat in one of the seats opposite him.
"You're officially welcome to Brooklyn College. As you already know I'm your academic counselor. Not every student enjoys this privilege of having a personal counselor. All the students have one particular counselor but for students like you with such intelligence who come in through the scholarship program and who might have a hard time fitting in. Don't feel too pressured. They're just teenagers like you irrespective of class or status. You know the first time I came across your essay I was touched. You were made for great things Emicott and if you need anything my doors are always wide open" said Mr Devon
    "Thank you so much Sir, I'm grateful for this opportunity and I'll make Brooklyn College proud said Elise with a smile.
    Mr Devon took Elise on a tour around the campus. Elise was mesmerized it wasn't like anything she had ever seen. It was huge unlike the schools back at home. She couldn't wait to start. In that moment, all the anxiety, fear and agitation she was once feeling depleted. She knew she was meant to be here. Like her grandfather said she was a star and all  she needed to do was shine...
     "I belong here" whispered Elise to herself.