"The reason it hurts so much to separate is because our souls are connected."
-The Notebook
The people were bustling to and fro in the university, and it was so crowded that Ling needed to apologize every now and then to the people she bumped into on the way as she hastened her pace toward the auditorium. It brings a sense of nostalgia to her. After graduation, she never returned to the university again as she requested that all her credentials be sent to Kalasin.
She quickly glanced at her wristwatch and silently cursed herself, she probably wouldn't make it. If only the recess during the trial hadn't lasted a few hours. The presiding judge certainly took time after hearing both sides and reviewing the evidence presented. Thankfully, they won the civil case. The losing party appeal the decision to the next higher level of court but Ling would think about it the other day. After she signed the necessary document, she immediately gathered her things and rushed out of the court room, the memory of the past two years rushing on her mind.
Those first years were filled with nothing but blood, sweat, and tears. She spent her cold nights alone in a dingy apartment that her money could afford, tired, weary, and restless. Most nights, she had no sleep as she spent it all compiling and drafting evidence and reviewing for the upcoming Bar Exam. During daytime, she is building her expertise through various opportunities that the firm is providing her through training and professional development. Her determination and hard work were rewarded as she passed the Thailand Bar Association examination, topping it and earning her praise, with job offers flooding in afterwards.
After her Summer clerkship, she became a Graduate Lawyer in one of the biggest Partner firms in Thailand but choses not to relocate back in Bangkok. After a couple weeks of orientation, she was rotated across multiple legal practices so the firm where she applied for could figure what practice group she is most suitable with. She spent her first year compiling evidence for court cases, drafting and analyzing legal documents, researching laws and regulations but what she loves the most is her providing legal advice and doing pro bono cases for clients that dont have enough money.
"Is it done?" She asked, almost out of breath to the man guarding entrance of the big university auditorium.
The security guard only looked at her curiously but still answered respectfully, "Not yet, ma'am. The guest speaker was late, so it was delayed too."
Ling breathed a sigh of relief and retrieved the graduation ticket from her Messenger bag. The guard checked it for a moment before nodding and letting her in. She was in a hurry earlier, so Ling didn't even have time to tidy herself up. She's wearing straight-cut slacks and a button-up white dress in accordance with the current regulations with her advocate's gown draped in her arms. If her hair tied into a tight bun weren't a bit messy, she would look like she was about to enter the courtroom again for a hearing.
The hall was full of people, both proud parents and graduates who were sitting in front. She took a deep breath. It seems like she is definitely not late yet. The guest speaker was currently speaking and seemed to be finishing up, so Ling decided to just sit in the very far corner of the auditorium, in a somewhat dark area that wasn't hit by the light.
It took a while, but after the message to the Graduates, they started calling out the names of the graduating students, who then began to line up as well. It somehow created a small commotion since students were jumping in excitement and many of them were huddling around while waiting for their names to be called out, but in a room full of people, Ling's eyes would always find her, and her heart would ache again for the umpteenth time.
