Chapter 1
Daydreaming is not something I do often or ever really at all, but as I take my seat on the train from Boston to New York, I cannot stop my subconscious from taking its own trip down memory lane.
"John Locke said, 'The origin of knowledge is in experience, as provided to the mind through the senses.' So please, go have a summer filled with empiricism." Cora was just finishing up her final lecture when I snuck into the hall and took a seat in the back row. As accomplished of a professor as she was, she always insisted on teaching several introductory courses. If I remember correctly, that particular one was Learning and Memory – Individual Differences. She said her desire was not driven by a need to shape young minds, but rather to open them, so why not get them when they have the freshest outlook. "And remember..." She concluded, "Live a life worth living, simplicity can be astounding." She never failed to receive applause at the end of every semester and that day was just like all the others.
I watched as some students filed out of the classroom, but most went to the front to bid Dr. Mills a farewell for the summer. I could not help the slight smirk that pulled at my lips as I watched her with them. I held a great sense of pride when it came to her. She was absolutely one of the most brilliant minds of her generation and everyone knew it. Of course, being the only child of such a forward thinking mind, I was expected to be a great deal like her. The intelligence, I had, but up until that summer, I didn't have a philosophical bone in my body. I made my way down to the front just as the last upcoming sophomores were crowding around her desk.
"Well, what in the world possessed a grad student to come all the way to the undergrad wing?" She said in jest. "You kids remember my daughter Regina?" A chorus of Yeahs and Hellos resounded from the students. "Hello, again." I said, as I waited patiently for them to disperse. "Mom," I began once they were gone. "You always have known how to wrap freshman around your finger." She laughed. "Oh, Regina, you and your generalizations. They were a good group, full of questions. I adore the inquisitive ones." She said as she packed her laptop into her briefcase. Suddenly I heard a low rumble. "Oh, good, you haven't eaten yet. I've wanted to try that new Indian place on Whistler for a while." "That sounds wonderful. Let me just pop into my office for a minute and I'll be free for the evening." I nodded. "I'm going to get a coffee, meet you out by Rumple?" I said as we walked into the hallway. Mr. Gold was the donor whose money built the Gold building where my mother's office and classes were. Everyone had always referred to the horrendous six foot replica of his head as Rumpelstiltskin, which I assume stemmed from his power hungry ways. The statue was atrocious, but it was the most identifiable object on campus. "Give me fifteen minutes. Oh, and a soy late please." She said as we parted at the elevator.
Walking down to Granny's, one of the coffee shops on campus, took longer than usual since the main walkway was overrun with the Greek brothers and sisters. Needless to say, I was not a fan of fraternity and sorority life, so I took the long way around. As I walked down the stairs that were on the back of the Gold building, I noticed a woman covered in orange headed my way. She wore tight jeans with orange stripes painted down the sides, a white fitted t-shirt with an orange vest over top, bright orange tennis shoes and an orange line painted just below each eye. Orange was the color for the Zeta's, the largest sorority on campus. Aside from her overly spirited outfit, she was rather beautiful, with long, blonde hair and a petite, athletic build. She was bounding up the steps like she was running from a fire and that's when it happened. It was only a moment, just one second that felt more like a lifetime. Just as we were passing I caught a glimpse of her eyes. I had never seen green like that before. They were so bright with just a glimmer of hazel. Now, here is where things get rocky. For the most part, I was highly aware of my surroundings a majority of the time, but as I've learned more recently, the universe always has other plans. Lost in the unreal green of the Zeta's eyes, I completely missed a step and tumbled straight into her. "Oh my god! Are you okay?" She asked with a hint of amusement. As I struggled to regain my balance, I felt her incredibly toned arms holding my waist, and suddenly I couldn't remember how to form a coherent sentence so I just nodded. "Wow, I swear I thought you were going right over the railing..." She gently turned me around in her arms and a second look into her eyes was all it took for me to be found. Funny thing is, I hadn't realized I was lost.