Hetty and Ryan: Overcome

Crossing Paths

Hetty's insides churned with equal parts nerves and excitement as she dutifully drove the exact speed limit along Oak Shadow Highway. She passed a rainbow of paragliders floating down a mountain of intense, billowing greenery. The sun warmed her forearm, which she rested on the edge of the open window as the AC blasted around her. Her sisters--Brooke and Denise--always gave her endless crap for driving with the windows down and the air conditioning on at the same time. The combination of warm, cold and fresh air was the only temperature that felt comfortable to her.

Hetty turned up the volume and hummed along to "Amazed" by Lonestar. A tingling flashed briefly through her stomach and down each arm, but she stuffed the nostalgic memory deep down.

The music helped her relax, injecting joy into her heart even as her body buzzed nervously in anticipation of the first day of her brand-new career. It was Hetty's first real job, after having finally selected a long-term career path and graduating from her masters program.

She carefully followed the GPS and turned left into the parking lot of Walnut Grove Middle School, which was in pristine condition and immaculately landscaped. After parking, Hetty gathered up her things with trembling fingers. No amount of experience or growing up would ever shake her struggle with nerves whenever she faced a new situation. She felt like a teenager again, walking into her first day of school.

That thought reminded Hetty of her actual first day of high school, freshman year, for just a flash of a second. Those flashes had never fully subsided, eight years later. Tiny shards of memories from that tumultuous, fairy tale, tragedy of a year that had been the best year of her life, ending in a heart break she anticipated from the beginning.

Drenched in nostalgia, Hetty snatched her key from the ignition, abruptly switching off the music. That was ancient history, and she was healed from it. Not just healed, but thriving - her life completely on track.

Hetty steadied herself with a deep breath as she stepped through the large glass office door at the front of the school. She was wearing a flowing purple dress and had her dirty-blonde hair pulled into a half-up, half-down style.

The principal's secretary, whom Hetty had met before her interview three weeks prior, greeted her with a warm smile. Everything about this school felt inviting and happy. Posters of diverse figures in history lined the office walls, as well as student-created art promoting kindness.

"Hi, Hetty. You made it!" exclaimed Linda, the secretary.

"Good morning," Hetty replied. She tried to sound friendly, but her nervous voice came out somewhat strained. It would take her a few minutes to settle in and reestablish her confidence.

"I'll take you to meet Melissa." Linda walked Hetty down the office hallway, introducing her to a couple colleagues on the way--the school registrar and someone else whose title Hetty immediately forgot once the conversation ended.

"Melissa? Our new guidance counselor, Hetty, is here," Linda stated with enthusiasm. Everyone in this place was incredibly friendly and seemed to genuinely enjoy working here. That had been Hetty's impression during the interview process as well.

"Welcome, Hetty! It's great to see you again. We are so happy to have you here at our school," greeted the principal, pronouncing each word as if she genuinely meant it. Melissa had dark, curly hair and a face that exuded warmth and professionalism. She wasn't overly bubbly, but kindness emanated from her spirit. Hetty felt excitement swirling around in her chest, knowing she had made the right decision to accept this job.

"Thank you. I'm so happy to be here," replied Hetty, hoping the truth of the statement would compensate for the lack of emotion in her quiet voice.

"Today, you'll be shadowing our other counselor, Mariana. I believe you met her in the interview, if you remember. I know there were a lot of people on the panel that day, so it may all be a blur. She will show you around and start training you."