To Infinity and Beyond

Student Camp

Alice's POV

"Here are your room keys, Ma'am." The blonde man at the hotel reception offered me the keys along with a warm smile.
I gave him a polite nod before heading to my room. I still had a couple of hours before my first session with the kids at the Student Camp.

Yes - the all NYC elementary school's Student Camp. I wanted to kill Elsie!

As soon as I entered my room, my phone chimed flashing the caller's name. It was the devil herself ringing me for the tenth time today.

"Yes, Elsie."

"Alice, have you checked-in yet?"

"Yes. I just unlocked my room, and will you stop calling..."

"No, I won't stop calling you. Why did you have to check-in at the hotel when the camp was providing accommodation to all the staff members?"

"Because I don't know anyone there! And plus I like minding my own business. Your job will be done, stop pushing me on this, okay?" It went out meaner than I had intended to, but this last minute arrangement made me very uncomfortable. In general, I hated surprises. I hated when I couldn't plan my days ahead of time. The fact I had to cancel all my appointments at the clinic for the next four days made me nauseous. I felt irresponsible, like I was cheating on my job.

"Fine! Stay at the hotel, but atleast meet Ms. Linn at lunch. Give her your best impression. She is the Program Coordinator for this event and her feedback is..."

"Yes, Ms. Linn. Got it. Can you just relax now? Why don't you go and rest? Or attend to your broken ankle? That stupid foot led me to this situation in the first place." I tossed the wild bangs of hair from my face in annoyance. I was made to attend this Camp as Elsie's proxy. Elsie had several sessions planned with kids of various grades as their Counsellor, and I was to replace her last minute because being the goofball she was, she tripped in her kitchen, sprained her ankle and landed in a cast and on bed rest for the next three weeks. Out of all her commitments, this was the only one that she couldn't afford to miss. She was just a temp, and last minute cancellation could have caused her job.

I couldn't let that happen, now could I?

I heard her sigh at the other end, "take care Alice! I owe you big time for this. Thanks a lot for your help. You are the only one I could count on.." She muttered the last part in whispers, mostly to herself. It snapped me out of my annoyance, and my heart melted at once. I was indeed all she had.

"I am here for you Elsie. Just go rest now and stop worrying." My voice was soft this time. There was a long pause and I could hear her nod. Finally, she decided to hang up. I knew she trusted me with this.

I spent the next hour working on my appearance and sorting my clothes. I went through the program details again, and headed straight to my first session, half an hour ahead of time.

Elsie wanted my best impression, and that's exactly what she would get.

***

The day was running surprisingly smooth. Miss Linn - Elsie's program coordinator was a kind lady in her mid-fifties who immediately felt sympathetic after listening first hand account of Elsie's medical emergency and welcomed me as her proxy rather open-heartedly. Elsie had written to her in advance and perhaps knowing that I was a Doctor, and had expertise in counselling might have weighed in to her quick approval of the situation.

I had some fun ice-breaking sessions with two batches of first grade students as part of my morning schedule. I had a wide smile pasted on my face throughout. The kids camp wasn't as bad as I had thought. On the contrary, it felt nice to be a part of this initiative, an opportunity to interact with such pure young minds.

I was sitting at a corner seat of the huge dining hall which was currently bustling with laughter and enthusiasm. Even with the bout of contagious energy that flowed through the room, I rather preferred to enjoy my lunch in peace. Hence, I took my corner and just absorbed.

It felt surreal to be surrounded by such positive energy, the kids were in their absolute element- with no worry of the world at all.

After taking my time to devour my meal sans company, and silently observe the vibrant faces, I decided to take a stroll towards the camps alley. The mildly cold breeze was welcoming, the chortles and chaos were slowly disappearing in the background as I walked through a row of quiet cabanas donned in white fabrics, aligned symmetrically in a straight line, right next to each other.

It bought me calm. Nobody knew me here, I was just an ordinary face amongst many and I didn't had to put up a strong front here. For once, I was not required to convince the world that I was doing okay. Nobody would judge me or feel sorry for me. I was allowed to think deeply and get lost in the maze of my life. I could retrospect and openly feel not okay.
After a long walk, I took a seat next to a small cabana. I still had twenty minutes before my next session, which was also the last one of my first day here.

Collecting my thoughts while taking deep slow breathes, I gently held my head in my hands. Closing my eyes, I let my mind run in whichever direction it deemed fit. Minutes passed by as I sat in pin drop silence.

Pulling myself out of my reveries, I heaved a deep sigh, slowly getting up to walk back to my impending sessions. That was when I heard a soft whisper.

"Alice?"

"Alice, is that you?"

I turned and found my eyes meeting the owner of the voice. I felt instant goosebumps peeking into those gorgeous green orbs. The ones I could never get enough of. The ones that stared right back at me. Sad and confused.