Awakenings: The Greek, The Russian and Me

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Damned rain and traffic! It's a typical New York City cold and rainy day in New York City in late March. As usual, I'm running late to class. Dr. Liberman is really going to deduct points from my final grade. The stairs to the main building seem never ending. My heart is just racing; I don't want to be the object of his sarcastic comments once I enter his lecture. Almost there to the door, need to step up the pace. Oh no! I cannot believe what is happening. Can it really be? Do they hold fire drills in college? That's just great; what else can go wrong today? The security guard is now instructing everyone to step away from the entrance doors and wait on the steps. Reluctantly I step away from the doors and lean against the tall cement wall that encompasses part of the stairs leading to the side of the building.

York College seems so gloomy today. The massive brick building with rows of glass windows seems to be towering menacingly over me, as if trying to tell me, You won't make it; you don't really belong here. Trying to calm the increasing panic and racing heartbeat, I look toward the sky; it's an assortment of patchy gray clouds. It's drizzling now. The gentle mist caresses my face and fills me with hope and renewed determination to succeed. I take a deep breath and exhale slowly, and as I focus again on my surroundings, there he is, staring at me with a devilish smile. Hell, he's very handsome, tall, with an olive complexion, dark hair, piercing brown eyes, and broad shoulders. Without realizing it I instantly smile back. Then reality hits me, and I feel my face on fire. Quickly I look to the ground and then causally to my sides; there is no other girl next to me. Could it be? Was the smile really for me? I risk a second look at this angel dressed in black. He is still smiling, but now there is a twinkle in his eyes. Mesmerized, unable to look away, I stare back into those piercing eyes, and my heart pounds.

The security guard is now waving everyone back toward the building. Realization hits; Dr. Liberman will be sneering again. Every time I enter his class, I feel his beady eyes staring at me behind his thick glasses. I double my pace, aiming for the building's double doors. Finally in the building, I race down the hallway. Suddenly I sense that I am not alone. My heart instantly starts pounding. The distinct, enticing smell of a man's cologne is wrapping around me, making my senses reel. I dare not to look toward the shadow on my right.

Then I hear a deep voice, confident and with a thick, intriguing accent, say, "Hi, my name is Conn."

I say hi and keep walking, heading straight for the escalator. He is still walking beside me with a devilish smile. I reach the escalator, and he follows me on, standing right next to me. This is just a coincidence; he is just going in the same directions, I tell myself, as my heart pounds faster by the minute. I risk a glance to the side. He's still grinning, and he asks me, "How do you take your coffee?"

Surprised at his question, I reply, "Light, no sugar."

His eyes are now twinkling. "What time do you have a break?" he asks.

Dumbfounded, I automatically reply, "At ten thirty," as we reach the top of the escalator.

He winks and tells me, "See you here at ten thirty; I'll bring the coffee," as he gets off the escalator and takes the adjacent escalator down. For a moment I am paralyzed at the top of the stairs; then I continue my frantic pace toward the lecture hall and Dr. Liberman.

When I enter the class, everyone is seated. Did they not participate in the fire drill? Have I imagined the events of the last fifteen minutes? As usual, Dr. Liberman stares my way and makes one of his snide remarks. Dr. Liberman is middle-aged, stout, slightly overweight, with ash-blond hair, and he believes that his mission in life is to make the class as difficult as he can for students. I locate an empty seat next to Lisa and settle in, taking out my notebook. He continues to lecture on the components of a cell. As he lectures, he plays with the graduation ring on his stubby left ring finger.