"I think that's the last of it!" exclaimed Elli, exhausted as she placed the last box, this one containing her medical books, in her room. "Thanks again for letting me stay here, Grandma."

"No thanks necessary darling, you know you are always welcome to stay here," replied Ellen.

Elli stooped down and hugged her grandmother from her wheelchair, her prison. Elli sighed to herself.

"What's wrong sweetheart?" her grandmother asked.

"Nothing… nothing. Just tired I guess."

Later that evening, Elli finished getting dinner ready and set the table for three. As she was folding the napkins, Stu came barreling through the door and ran right past Elli yelling, "Is it dinner-time? I'm starved!"

"Not quite, but you can say hello to your sister," Elli said teasingly.

"ELLI, You're HOME!" Stu exclaimed, and he ran and hugged her. "How was school?"

"It went really well, Stuie, but I've missed you. How on Goddess's Earth have you two been getting on without me?" Elli remarked jokingly.

"We've been doing fine, thanks," Stu joked back.

"Good, now go wash up for dinner sweetie."

After Stu padded off to the washroom, Elli headed to the front porch, where Ellen was sitting. She liked to sit out there and watch the villagers go past. Some would be hurrying to the store, some to church to visit Carter. Mineral Town was certainly quiet compared to the city, Elli thought to herself. Leaning on the doorway, Elli's thoughts drifted. College had been hard, she remembered, but she was determined. And anyone with enough motivation can do anything, right? Elli sighed, yet some things are impossible. She would just have to wait and see, she thought, she really needed to focus anyway. Tomorrow is a big day after all.

"Is dinner ready, dear?" said Ellen quietly, breaking Elli's thoughts.

"Oh-um, yes. I was just coming to get you," Elli beamed, and wheeled her grandmother inside for dinner. When they got back inside, Stu was already seated at the table. Elli served dinner, chicken breast with steamed broccoli, and sat at the table with her family.

"Is your cooking any better?" asked Stu.

Ellen shot him a nasty look, "Shh! Stu that's rude!"

Stu looked embarrassed. Elli noticed this and said smiling, "I don't think so, Stu! I didn't have any time to practice at school, so you'll just have to get used to it again, won't you?"

They all laughed and started to eat. Elli noticed that she didn't have much of an appetite anymore.

"Are you ready for tomorrow?" asked Ellen.

"As ready as I'll ever be…" Elli replied.

"Don't worry, Doctor Trent will show you everything. He's a nice man, from what I know of him at least. He is pretty quiet, he keeps to himself. But he is a darn good doctor. I've never felt better, well considering… well, as good as I can feel I suppose…"

Elli reached over and patted her grandmother's hand. "It will be okay. I mean, that's what I went to school for right?" she said, trying to be cheerful, even though it was hard. It has always been hard for her.

That night, Elli had a hard time falling asleep. She lied on her back and stared into the darkness for what felt like hours. "I need to sleep, I need to sleep. I cannot be tired on my first day of work…." She was scared. And nervous. "What if he is mean?" "What if he doesn't like me…?" "What if he does?" Elli turned over onto her side. "This has to stop. I don't even know him. Everyone says he is nice. And I'm a smart girl, right? I went to school for this… I am prepared." After many self-reassurances, she finally fell asleep.

Elli woke early the next morning to the gentle beams of light filtering through her curtains. She missed this. She missed the country air, the lighthearted people, and the laidback lifestyle. The city is so hectic, so… tiring. And despite her sleeping trouble the night before, she woke up feeling like she had slept days. She glanced at the clock; it read 7:22. She had plenty of time to get ready to be at the clinic by 9.

She left Ellen's house at 8:30, wanting to make a good impression by being early. It was less than a 10 minute walk to the clinic. When she arrived, there was a note on the door: "Dear Elli, I have run to the store for some herbs. Be back before 9 –Dr." Elli took the note off the door and went inside. The clinic was a bright, clean white. The room was rather small, but fitting for its location. A desk was placed beside the door. The back corner was sectioned off with a curtain, an examining room, she presumed. Peeking inside the curtain, she noticed there was another desk inside, labeled Dr. Trent. Back in the main room, Elli saw a staircase behind the counter. She headed over and looked up the stairs. It was dark up there and out of curiosity, she headed up. Peering around the edge of the stairwell, she saw a room with the door ajar. Elli pushed the door open revealing a frightening sight. The room was in shambles, ripped curtains and broken picture frames abound. She stepped into the room.

"What are you doing up here!" a voice sounded from behind her, making her jump. She turned to see a tall figure with messy black hair, dressed in a white laboratory coat.

"Eee! Uh No-nothing, I was just uh- curious! The door was open, I am so sorry!" she peeped.

"There is nothing up here that concerns you. Please don't come up here again," he said sternly and while his diction was polite, he sounded angry.

"Yes sir," Elli replied, ashamed of what she had done.

Once they were downstairs, the man introduced himself. "I'm Doctor Trent, and you must be Elli."

"Yes, I am. Look, I am really sorry that we must start on such bad terms."

"It's alright… you didn't know any better."

"Okay, well please, I promise, I won't do it again."

The doctor grunted an acknowledgement, and said "Well, then. I'll show you want you're to do." He led her to the desk by the door. "This will be your desk. When a patient comes in, ask them what is wrong, and have them fill out these forms," motioning to a clipboard on the corner of the desk. Elli nodded. "Then, bring the forms and the patient to me. If I need you to help, I'll ask you to fetch me things or something like that. Any questions?"

"No sir, I think I've got it!" Elli nodded.

"You don't have to do that, you know."

"What?"

"Call me 'sir'. I'm not that much older than you."

"I- I'm sorry…" she blushed.

"It's okay," he said. Elli swore she saw a hint of a smile on his lips.