There you stood at the door to the office of Professor Grimes, gripping your folder and trying not to sweat.
This was the first time you had scheduled a meeting with Professor Grimes and you didn't want to mess this up.
You thought through every sentence you'd say to he, what he'd say to you, how you'd keep yourself from talking too fast if you got nervous.
While still thinking through all of this, the door finally opened.
You quickly realized you never knocked, and now this beautiful man with the bluest eyes was staring at you.
"Oh.. hi professor Grimes," you said smiling up at him." "Well hello alisha" Professor Grimes said with a small grin, "please come in."
Mentally kicking yourself for not even knocking, you quietly walked into the office.
Taking it all in, you could see that Professor Grimes really loved reading, because literally every wall in his office had a bookcase felled to the brim with books.
A disheveled desk filled with more books, papers, and a laptop sat in the far left corner of the room.
With the lighting dim, you felt like you were in a private library.
"Please, take a seat alisha" Professor Grimes gestured, sitting in his own chair now.
You did as told in a swift motion, not wanting to look nervous.
"So alisha, we have a lot to discuss, for starters why you've messed some many classes?"
You looked down at your hands, not wanting to look up and explain.
Talking to professor's wasn't something you did.
For you, college was something you knew you had to get through in order to get a good job and take care of your family. But noone ever told you how hard it was going to be. You weren't the smartest kid in high school and you never played sports or signed up for the high school musicals.
That just wasn't you.
Being an introvert was very much who you were and was still currently you.
But right now you were sitting in front of your American History Professor and had no idea how to answer him.
Even though college was a lot work for you, you weren't the type to complain or make a big deal out of doing work. But how were you going to be honest and tell Professor Grimes that you had to move back home and take care of your mom and sisters?
That's just not something you tell your professor. That's not something you tell anyone.
Looking up not wanting to give away any emotion you cleared your throat.
'Uh...well i just picked up a few extra hours at work and i thought i'd be able to catch up by getting the homework from a friend in class."
Professor Grimes was now staring at you very intently, as if he already knew you were lying.
Not wanting to look him in the face, you decided to look awkwardly at one of his bookcases.
"Well alisha, i get working extra hours, hell i've been there myself. But I have to say, missing 3 classes so early in the semester isn't good for your grade, and turning in only half your assignments isn't gonna give you a passing grade."
You shifted in the chair, you didn't want to cry, but you could feel your face getting hot.
"I'm sorry Professor Grimes, it's just i have a lot going on right now…...you trailed off now feeling the tears come.
You could feel your chest raise and fell faster and before you knew it. Professor Grimes was in front of you on his knees looking up at you.
"I get hard times and having to make sacrifices alisha," he said in a low tone voice. "But i want you to know it does get easier. Not now, but it will."
His hand was now rested on top of yours and as ugly as you felt for crying in front of your professor, you genuinely felt for once someone understood you.
Both your eyes met.
and in that moment you felt a chill go up your spin, "professor…
KNOCK KNOCK