Top 10 - Diversity
Vidhi Patel has spent a large part of her childhood immersed in the world of politics. Now, after graduating from medical school and becoming a pediatrician, she has to make life-changing decisions. Get married and go down the pat...
Looking around at the sadness-filled faces that had still not buried the pain of the past month, I grimaced. Taking a deep breath, I began my memorized speech, knowing if I tried to speak off the cuff, tears would escape their carefully guarded prison.
"Welcome everyone to the Trauma Workshop. I'm Dr. Vidhi Patel, a local pediatrician. We will cover the basics of helping adolescents with the trauma of loss as well as PTSD..."I continued on, slipping into auto-pilot. After doing the same workshop for 3 days, I've all but memorized the slides and accompanying questions.
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Grabbing my materials and bag, I head over to the chorus room where Terrence and Kim were plunking away on the piano, belting out some song for the winter line-up. Waiting for them to finish the page turn, I let myself in and throw them a thumbs up before heading to the music office, waiting for Terrence.
Minutes passed and the music was replaced by laughter and giggles. Poking my head through the music office door, I saw Terrence surround by his coworkers, some a little too close for comfort. Seeing the look of panic flash across his eyes as he was asked a question by one of the crowd, I walked out and took hold of his arm, pulling him from the group.
"Ready to hide?" I joked, leading him away from the bewildered looks.
"Just about, they don't skirt around their questions over here." He revealed as we went into his office.
"Oh?" my thoughts raced, wondering what could have been asked of him.
"...I told them my heart belonged to only one woman. Well, besides my mother and sister of course." He stated, bringing me out of my reverie.
Raising an eyebrow, I tried to mask the hurt I felt slice through my chest at the mention of his heart taken. Shaking off those thoughts, I unpacked our lunch and set it in the microwave as he made another pot of coffee.
"Are you okay, Vi? You're uncharacteristically quiet." Terrence asked, coming up behind me. Turning around in surprise, I exclaimed,
"Are you trying to say that I'm a loudmouth, Terr-bear!?" Chuckles erupted from both of us as he said defensively,
"Maybe, but I love your loud mouth!"
"Oh hush you-" I stopped abruptly as Helena walked through the doors, freezing as she spots us standing so close to each other. Jumping apart,
"What are you doing here Helena!?"
"I could ask you the same thing, Vidhi." She says with a smirk and raised eyebrow. Blushing, I gesture for her to continue with her statement.
"I wanted to see how Kim was holding up." She explained, not realizing Kim was right behind her, about to wrap her up in a bear hug. Kim swept her up and squished her tight, peals of surprised laughter emerging from Helena.
Terrence and I turn to each other, our faces painted with joy at their smiles. Gesturing to the lunch sitting on his desk, I led the way to a smorgasbord of lunch items from pasta salad to sandwiches. Raising his eyebrows in question and surprise, he asked,
"Are you trying to feed the entire faculty?"
"No, just the first floor," I answered coyly, a small smile giving away my amusement. Shaking his head, we sat down side by side, his desk acting as the table.
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Terrence's POV:
"Hey, can you pass the thumbtacks? I don't have enough green ones." Vidhi yelled down from the ladder. Nodding, I brought over another box of thumbtacks, knowing it would drive her mad if all the pins on one poster did not match.
Pressing in the final few pins, she descended, coming back to bicep-height for me. Taking a few steps back, we admired our handiwork around the room. Previously empty walls had corny posters on them and the art department had painted a mural on the side wall, memorializing the voices lost.
Having a sudden thought, I went to the grand piano and began plunking out the first bars to our Senior Song duet, hoping to jog her memory. Spinning around, recognition lot up her face as she began humming the duet lines for her section. Speeding up the accompaniment, I joined in vocally, convincing her to belt out her part as well.
"THIS IS ME!" We finished simultaneously, unaware that the band directors, Kim, and Helena had been listening from the doors. Well, that is until they have away their hiding spots by clapping.
"Well, looks like you've finally got a partner who can belt as well as you can." One of the band directors complimented, not missing a chance to give me a fatherly look conveying a hint of suggestiveness.
Guess he thought a fresh start here ment a fresh start elsewhere. Sorry, but I'm not leaving my best friend in life behind.
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