Parallel Paths

[1]

Jeanette Seville squealed like a child on Christmas morning when she opened her laptop, reading the bold letters popping past the lambent screen. She vigorously snatched the bottom and brought it close to her face, adjusting her violet glasses and accidentally knocking some astronomy textbooks off her desk. To her, it was better than waking up to piles of presents stuffed underneath a tree.

As usual, she'd woken up at four in the morning when she'd accidentally spilled coffee on the pristine, white rug her husband, Simon, had recently bought. She would be in trouble for the third time that week, breaking her record of how many things she could break or ruin within a short seven days. It was only Tuesday. Though, It was no surprise; she'd been known for her clumsiness and lapses. Still half-asleep, she'd spent over half an hour trying to remove the stain using an array of cleaning products before her husband would wake. She eventually gave up, leaving it as a faint, slightly noticeable stain. She couldn't deal with the stress of it. She was already overwhelmed with her endless studies and finding time to run errands and finish housework simultaneously.

"I can't believe this," Jeanette gasped, her emerald vision glued to the words. She rubbed her dark circles and blinked a few times; she had to confirm if it was too good to be true. The email from the astronomy institute had arrived, offering her the position she had dreamed of since she was a little girl.

Outdoors throbbed with early spring, the flowers blooming as miniature rainbows danced across the walls. She held out her hand and "caught" one in her hand.

The chipette put her laptop back on the surface and pushed her desk chair backward; she spun happily with her hands in the air, closing her eyes to take in the best news she'd received thirty seconds before. The National Astronomy Institute congratulated her and offered the position of Junior Astronomer, detailing her start date, salary, and benefits. She needed to confirm her acceptance by the end of the month.

Morning streamed through the large windows of their vast, minimalist apartment. A hundred thoughts drowned everything around the twenty-five-year-old as she closed her eyes. Her mind drifted to the countless nights spent poring over research papers, the exhilarating moments of discovery under the starry skies, and the sacrifices made during the final stages of her PhD in astronomy.

If she took up this once-in-a-lifetime job offer, she would no longer have to feel guilty about relying heavily on Simon to provide for her lifestyle. She'd always debate whether she should get a part-time job, but he'd tell her to focus on her work and let him handle finances. Simon supported his wife deeply and wanted to ensure she'd finish her studies to pursue her passion for exploring the galaxies.

The brunette jumped and twirled in the air; she dashed through the stark white doors of their bedroom and plopped face-down on the comforter. Her celebration went on for a mere ten minutes. Then, she went back to her desk where her open laptop remained. She leaned forward, placed her elbow on the surface, and cradled her chin in her palm. Her fingers curled gently around her cheek, her eyes lit up as she gazed at the screen. She couldn't help but reread the message three more times.

Jeanette giggled softly and picked up her phone, which was charging a few inches away from her. It was within her reach so she extended her arm and unplugged the white cord from the wisteria-clad device. She was surprised she'd somehow forgotten about telling her own husband about the job, so that was exactly what she was going to do.

Simon was at the lab, probably immersed in one of his experiments, but she dialed his number nevertheless. She pressed the FaceTime button despite her unkempt appearance; studying all day, evening, and night meant being underdressed, makeup-free, and sporting a messy low ponytail.