The Doctor's Dilemma

Chapter 29: It's Time

Wednesday, April 20, 2039
Vidhi's POV:

Buttoning my shirt, I glanced at the clock once more and with each growing minute, my hands became more clammy and shaky. Grabbing the hanger with my blazer on it and my purse, I tromped down the stairs to the awaiting group.

Encouraging looks greeted me and I threw them a grateful smile in return as Terrence asked and opened the door simultaneously,

"Ready for the first of many appearances?" I looked into his kind eyes and nodded,

"As ready as I will ever be. Thank you." As he followed me out, I wondered if anyone from my family besides my dad would show up.

Entering the senior center, I am flanked by my friends, who now have official campaign positions, and led to the back, away from prying camera lenses. Giving my bare makeup a few touchups and my hair a once over, Priti gave me an enthusiastic hug before walking down to her seat in the audience.

Sabrina and Anjali walked in after her and took a seat on each side of me, effectively stopping me from obsessively practicing my speech once more. Taking each of my hands, they each gave me a comforting squeeze before taking turns with the reassuring words and breathing advice. Breathing is important apparently.

When Terrence showed up in the doorway, they rose after final hugs and went off to their seats before he stepped into the room. Standing up, we stood face to face, and as I went to say something, he cut me off,

"Before you say anything, I know you. I know that you are thinking of all the things that could go wrong and all the things the people and press will say and that after today, your name will be forever in history, there's no coming back. But I also know that you are stepping on the podium and giving hope to all the people you are fighting for, the minorities who haven't had a truly representative leader. All the elderly women who hoped they would see a woman try again and ingraining into all the little girls out in our country that there is hope for them and there is no obstacle they can't work through to get to the same place."

Taking my hands and pulling me in close, until we were only a few inches apart, he whispered meaningfully,

"Trying is progress."

As I walk up the stairs to the podium, I spot my father pick up his phone and walk out, a call most likely coming through. My eyes scan the crowd as I try to keep the watery smile on my face. My gaze land on my mother, engrossed in her Whatsapp, apparently not caring that her only child was about to announce her historic presidency.

I frantically try to look for a positive, my dull eyes landing on Sabrina and Anjali, their applause enthusiastic and their faces bright with pride. My watery smile turned into a genuine one, one that reached my eyes. With my first step onto the wooden box that raised me a few inches taller for the mic, I saw Terrence at the back of the room, a camera set up on a tripod, ready to record every moment. Meeting my eyes, he grinned broadly and gave me a double thumbs up, mouthing some words as well, but I couldn't catch them.

Taking a breath, I began reading from the paper in front of me, opting to forgo the TelePrompter for the sake of comfort and authenticity.

Finishing out my announcement, thunderous applause and whistles filled the room, I saw Terrence walk up the side of the stage and escort me off as the press scrambled to click pictures and throw questions out. Back in the prep room, we collapsed onto the couch that was there and let out a tired sigh.

"Well, that's done. What next?" I asked, sitting up and looking at the laid-back figure beside me.

"What's next? Why I am I not surprised that you are already looking for the next thing. Breathe a little, take time to enjoy the small things." He chuckled playfully as he wove his hand into mine, pulling me into him. 

Leaning into him, I subconsciously thought,

This is where I want to be.