We get a few hours of sleep. Me-Me is up and dressed before me. She wakes me up with a gentle kiss on the cheek. I get up and sit on the side of the bed next to her.
Melisa: Kaby, we have to get back. We both have classes today.
I know we have classes, but I don’t want to think about that. I’d rather sit here in her glow for the rest of the day.
Kai: We probably should have brought a change of clothes. Now it’s the walk of shame back home.
Melisa: No shame here. What we did – it was amazing.
Kai: Yeah? I didn’t hurt you or anything.
Melisa: Of course not. Everything was perfect.
That has me feeling pretty good. Now I don’t have to spend the day doubting my performance.
I slip on my clothes.
Kai: Do we have time for food?
Melisa: Yeah, I think so.
I head towards the door, but my thoughts are still on last night and the feel of her body against mind – her face, her voice – everything. I’m going to have a tough time concentrating on my finals today.
We go down to the dining room.
Kai: It looks like there’s just some sausage and some fried vegetables. Is that okay with you? If not – I believe there’s a diner down the way.
Melisa: It’ll be fine.
We both grab a plate and sit down at the big table.
Kai: Thank you for being here for me. I don’t know if I would have been okay today without you.
Melisa: Thank you for being open to talking about your father. I know it can’t be easy.
Kai: You make it easier.
And I mean that. As Me-Me eats her food, I find myself staring.
Melisa: What? Do I have food on my face or something?
Kai: No, you’re just beautiful in the morning – that’s all.
I want hers to be the first face I see every morning. It’s all that’s on my mind. I get up to get a drink to stop my staring from becoming creepy.
Melisa: Thanks, Kaby.
I sit back down, and we talk a bit longer before it’s time for us to go.
The sun isn’t up yet, and it’s slightly chilly this morning, so I hold her in my arms to warm her up as we wait for our S-Uber to arrive. Part of me hopes it never comes. I can stay like this forever.
Reality sets in when I’m back in my room on campus. I have finals today for two of my classes, and I haven’t studied once all weekend. As I sit there trying to decide where to start cramming for these tests – I briefly consider dropping out of college altogether. There’s no doubt that the deaths in my family have had some effect on my work. I’ll be lucky if I’ve passed any of my classes.
But I can’t let my mother down. So I pull up my class notes and review them as much as I can.
I make it to class with a few minutes to spare and just enough time to review my notes again. Then I go inside and hope for the best. Two exams later, I’m finally done with my first term. I’m relieved but nervous about the overall results.
Just as I’m making my way to the Student Center, I get a text from ma asking me to meet her at Pepper’s Pub near campus. I’m not sure what she wants, but I guess it’s about my father. So I respond that I’m on my way and greet her there with a hug moments later.
Kai: What’s going on, ma? Are you okay?
Prosperity: Yeah, how about you?
Kai: I’m fine. I just finished my finals. So we’ll have to see how it went.
Prosperity: I’m sure you did well. I have news about your father.
Kai: He died. I know – I received the call yesterday.
Prosperity: It’s more than just that. Let’s talk inside.
(Generation 3 Chapter Summaries)
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