Elyse

III

I heard the soft calls of the birds outside. The sunrise shined into my window through the creases in my curtains. I slowly opened my eyes and looked over to the clock. It was 6:39am. I regretfully woke up before my alarm.

I felt a wave of nausea rise through my body. Something that was not very unusual for me. I was diagnosed with anxiety at the age of ten. We tried to get a medication to aid with it, but there was no such luck. My doctor didn't want me to take anything quite yet because I was so young.

I heard the steps of one of my parents in the kitchen below me and a few drawers open and shut. I figured it was my father as he told me my mother wouldn't be awake the night before.

I sat up and dangled my legs over the side of the bed. Today is my birthday. I keep forgetting its my birthday because of everything else going on. I stood up slowly and walked over to my window and opened the curtain. It was a sunny day for the middle of October. It didn't seem like the day was any different than the last.

I walked over to my bed and made it quickly. I placed the final throw pillow on my bed in the middle of two other pillows and put my large pile of stuffed animal cows along my pillows. Something I always loved growing up, cows. I had begged for a cow for my birthday for many years. My parents always laughed and got me a stuffed cow each year. Just to say they did get me a cow, but not the kind I really wanted.

I got dressed and put on some mascara. I wanted to look nice for my first day, but I hadn't ever worn much make up. In pre-career school, we aren't supposed to wear make up, or have any fancy hair colors. Boring if you ask me, but I followed the rules just like everyone else.

I wore black jeans and a light green blouse. It hugged around my boobs. I stared at myself in the mirror. I hadn't noticed how much my body was changing since I got my first period a few years ago. Maybe that would be an advantage for me.

I stepped out into the hallway and wandered quietly down the stairs. There at the bottom stood my mom, she had her pajamas on still but smiled up to me.

"Happy Birthday Elyse," she gave me a big hug.

"Thanks mom," I smiled back and pulled away. She grabbed my hand and led me to the kitchen where she had made me some pancakes, bacon and had fresh strawberries, my favorite.

I didn't think I would see my mom awake this early especially because she wasn't working today.

I sat down at the table and reached for the bottle of syrup, "Dad said you weren't going to be up, I thought you weren't working today."

"I am not working today but I couldn't miss seeing my baby before she left for her first day of the rest of her life!" She exclaimed excitedly.

Down the hallway I could hear my father groan, "Lorelei, can you quiet down a bit?" I turned to watch him walk into the kitchen and rub his eyes. He was still in his pajama pants and looked as if he had just woke up.

My mom giggled while grabbing a second plate with pancakes on it, "Here, babe." She handed him the plate. He walked over to sit down next to me and immediately started devouring his breakfast.

Soon after my mother followed with a plate of eggs and a piece of toast. I stared at her plate and then back up to her eyes, "Eggs?"

"I am feeling sick this morning, I just wanted something light." She sighed and put some salt and pepper on her eggs.

I nodded and watched my father as he continued to eat the remaining bite of his pancake. He didn't seem sick or bothered by my mother feeling sick.

After I finished my breakfast, I grabbed my bag and walked over to the shoe rack. I heard my dad follow behind me. He was dressed now with some jeans and a loose t-shirt.

He cleared his throat, "hey kiddo, I will drive you to school today."

I felt a little relieved since I figured I would be walking to school. It was only 8:23am but I was ready to go.

"Ready?" He asked and reached for his coat.

"Yeah," I said nervously and tied my shoes. I grabbed my jacket and waited for him to also put on his shoes.

He grabbed his keys and walked out to his car. The drive is a bit farther than my last school, but it is still only about 10 minutes. I watched as the trees and houses flew past us as we drove down the road.

The closer we got to the school, the more nervous I felt. The nausea I felt this morning started to come back and my head began to hurt.

A few minutes later, I could see the school in the distance. It was already 8:35am, but I still had 25 minutes until school officially started. My dad pulled his car in to the lot and parked.

"This is it!" He said and unlocked the doors, "good luck sweetheart." He smiled and watched as I got out of the car. I waved to him and turned to the door of the building.

This is it, it is time. Although I still had a little while til school started, I wanted to find my classes and get my schedule with enough time. I pulled open the door to the large school in front of me and stepped inside.

There was a little lobby with a few chairs and benches, and a secretary at a window. She must have known I was knew as she opened the window and asked if I needed any help.

"Hi, um I am a new student. My name is Elyse Wilder." I stated as I walked over to the window.

"Ah, Miss Wilder, we are expecting you! Happy birthday," She smiled and typed on her desktop, "may I have your paperwork?"

I reached into my bag and handed her the packet. She thanked me and opened it up.

"Oh! A nurse!" She said as she opened it, "following in your mothers footsteps huh?"

I nodded and watched as she typed my information in.

What seemed like forever, she looked up and asked, "may I take your picture for your student identification badge?"

I nodded again and she pointed at the camera on her desktop, "Smile!"

I smiled and looked into the camera lens. I watched her smile at my photo and heard what sounded like a printer.

She stood up and walked back to the other side of the room and grabbed a small card. She handed it to me and I looked at my picture. It looked actually very nice.

"Alright Elyse, so you will walk through those doors," she pointed at the doors behind me, "and then you will go to your first class. Which..." she trailed off and looked at her screen, "should be foundational nursing."

Then she handed me a paper with my schedule, "thank you."

I turned the other way and started to walk to the door. Here we go.