Free Her Last Wish by Ema Volf Page A

about something in
front of the car. I could have listened in, but I didn’t want to intrude. I
didn’t really even care. However, I was stunned when Professor Clary slapped my
car keys into Professor Mason’s palm and climbed into a taxi, which had been
waiting nearby. I had no idea what made her so angry, but it must have been
something significant.
    Professor Mason swiped
a credit card in the taxi’s meter, placed it back in his wallet which went back
in his pocket, and readjusted my backpack on his shoulder. He then walked
toward me as if nothing happened. He smiled kindly at me as he opened the door.
“You’re awake. How are you feeling?”
    “Ugh,” was all I could
manage. The queasiness was a bit less, but I was exhausted. The short nap in
the car had helped, but I could have definitely used another.
    “Let me walk you up to
your apartment.” He offered a hand to help me out of the car.
    Unsure of how I’d even
make it up there without help, I nodded and placed my hand in his. When he
pulled me to my feet, my legs were weak and shaky. It had been a long time
since I’d felt that level of sick. It was the kind that drained a person body
and soul, my own personal Hell. I prayed the worst was over.
    It took a while to walk
up the stairs and down the hall, but Professor Mason showed unlimited patience
for me. With each step, I could feel my body further weaken and my stomach
roll. But I managed to make it to my door with no incident. Small victories? I
certainly thought so.
    Professor Mason
unlocked the door for me and stood aside to let me in. I immediately dropped
into my couch cushions, hoping they would swallow me whole and end my
suffering. Alas, they only stopped me from hitting the floor. I supposed that
would have to be good enough.
    Behind me, I could hear
the professor place my bag on the kitchen counter, along with my keys and some
sort of plastic bag. Within moments, he walked around the couch and knelt down
in front of me. He handed me a newly-opened pack of saltines and a small bottle
of ginger ale.
    “Thank you,” I said in
shock. Although any sort of food at all sounded like the worst idea ever, I was
touched by his concern and the kind gesture.
    He smiled gently at me.
“You’re welcome. I also cleared my schedule for today. I can stay with you as
long as you need me. Don’t be afraid to ask me for help. Anything you need.”
    I struggled to sit back
up, but he quickly came to my rescue. “You don’t need to do that. You have
classes to teach.”
    His smile turned sad.
“In case you haven’t noticed, I haven’t exactly been the best teacher in a
while. Now that I’m trying to do better, I’m running into the problem of
students choosing to ignore my classes thinking they’ll just pass, regardless,
because that’s how I’ve done it for the past few years out of sheer laziness.
Unfortunately, that will be changing, and they won’t know what hit them. But in
all fairness, I did give them today to catch up on what they were supposed to
read last time. Anyways, I haven’t taken a day off in a long time, even when I
probably should have. I think the school will survive a day without me.”
    I gave him an exhausted
smile. I had to admit that it would be nice to have someone help me out. I also
didn’t see an easy way to just kick him out of my house without hurting his
feelings. And any attempts I’d make wouldn’t be all that convincing, anyways.
Underneath it all, I didn’t want to be alone at the moment. His presence calmed
me, comforted me.
    “Also,” he added, “when
you’re ready, I also got you one of these.” He placed a box on the coffee table
in front of me. “I know you’ll probably have to take one when we go back to the
fertility specialist, but I figured it would be nice to know now instead of
later.”
    I squinted my eyes in
an attempt to focus enough to read. It was a pregnancy test. I stared at it,
trying to think if it would be late enough in my cycle to