"Mom; Dad!" I shouted from the front door. I just returned from college for Christmas. Just one more year and I can live close to them again.
"Ryan!" Mom screamed from her room, racing down the stairs. I laughed, making sure she didn't fall and break her back again just like last year.
"Calm down, Mom. I'm almost done with college."
"It's been too long, honey. It's been too long." She pulls me into a hug while Dad stands at the top of the steps, watching us. I know he wants to pull me into a hug too, but he's letting Mom have her dose of Ryan Higgins.
"I need to go somewhere really quick. I'm coming back soon – I promise."
It's almost like she knew I was going to visit her. Mom gave me a smile, though it looked sad. She nodded her head and urged me on to my journey.
☆☆☆
I drove all the way to her office. The building hasn't changed except for Christmas ornaments and other decorations littered it. I sometimes missed the place – not the actually building, just for the very person who helped me so much.
I walked to the front desk and immediately recognized the lady sitting behind a computer, her glasses nearly falling off her nose. "Linda?"
She looked up. "Ryan?"
Linda sprints out from the desk and hugs me tight. I laugh. "I missed you too."
She pulls away from me. "What are you doing here?"
"Looking for her."
"Oh, honey – "
I saw a familiar mop of hair. "Wait, I think that's her! I'll see again soon." I give her a squeeze and rush to the elevator. The doors close, but I was too happy to see her again. I was basically buzzing with excitement.
Once I reached the door, I didn't see my painting there. Disappointed, I opened the door anyway, just too excited to see her.
But she wasn't in there.
It was another lady whose name I don't know. She asked, "Are you a new patient?"
"Uh, no," I answered. "I was looking for someone. I'll be leaving now."
And I shut the door.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
