Love Heals

A Second Chance

Apparently I almost died. I don't remember any of it. "Selective amnesia" the doctor called it when I woke up in the hospital. Cuts in straight lines covered both my wrists but I didn't remember making them. Not that many at least.
Apparently I lost my scholarship for veterinary school. I lost my position at my job for not showing up for five days while in a coma. I got admitted to a mental institution.
Apparently no one could tell why I had done what I did and I couldn't remember enough to tell anyways. Everything was great then I was found in a bathtub half dead. I woke up and everything was not great. That's how people saw my situation.
I had been awake maybe an hour before all this was thrown at me. All I had to say? 'Oh.'

But that was two months ago. Nothing that I should be dwelling on, nothing I wanted to dwell on. All I want now is to start over and seeing as I've lost everything, now's my chance. I had about a month left before I got to leave this institution so I decided I might as well look for a job.
I had no intention of going back to school or working at a veterinary setting. At the same time I had no clue what I wanted so I settled on looking through ads on the internet.
'Help wanted! Biology tutor needed for high school student' one read. I shook my head knowing I had no patience for teaching.
'Help wanted! Dog sitter and walker. Good pay!' Too much like my previous occupation.
'Nanny for three kids needed. Twenty dollars an hour. Needed 24/7." Hell no. I hated kids and my selective amnesia had not taken that memory out.
Then something caught my eye: 'Personal assistant and secretary needed. High pay, free housing and meals, please text xxx-xxx-xxxx for details.'
This seemed interesting and it was nowhere that I would have thought I would end up ten years ago. And there was free housing and food. I lost my dorm along with my scholarship and I refused to move back home so this all sounded like a dream come true.
I began to draft my text message: Hello Mr. Calden, my name is Rose Lin. I was wondering about your ad for a personal assistant and secretary. May I have the details about the job and how I can apply?
And send.
Less than a minute later there was a response: Hello Ms. Lin, this will be a 24/7 kind of job. While housing and food are free, you will be living with me and going to work as my secretary. If this job still interests you, information and applications are at the attached link.
I immediately pressed the link, mildly excited for the future for the first time in years. I spent hours filling in the requirements and finished the forms by the time a nurse walked in to turn off the lights and internet. It has been a while since I've been so motivated.
"Millie?" I called out to the nurse before she left. "I think things are going to be ok now."
Millie gave me a hug smiled, "I have faith in you, darling. I hope you keep smiling as you are now."