Chapter 28: RESULTS DAY
Maya's POV
Present day (2007)
"I don't know if I can open it," I say pacing back and forth in the living room.
My MCAT results were in my hands. Oh crap they were in my hands.
"Maya take a deep breath," Aunt Ali says. I do so calming slightly. "Now open the envelope before I do."
I take another deep breath before ripping open the top of the envelope. I pull out the letter feeling Aunt Ali's eyes bore into me. I scan the letter taking in the key information.
Dear Miss Cameron…
We would like to congratulate you on your score.
I skip ahead a few lines and find the score. My jaw near hits the floor and my knees feel weak so I quickly sit on the coffee table.
"Can you check that for me?" I say. "That I read this right?"
Aunt Ali takes the letter and reads it quickly. Her eyes widen.
"Oh my gosh Maya!" She exclaims pulling me into a hug.
"I read it correctly, didn't I?" I stutter out. "I got forty-one right?"
"Yeah, Maya you did," She grins. "I'm so proud of you!"
"That means I got the scholarship…"
"That means you got the scholarship!"
"I thought I got thirty at most… I felt crap that day due to a migraine coming on…"
"Maya, stop," Aunt Ali says sternly. "You worked hard for this. Migraine or no migraine you worked hard for this."
"I don't know how to react," I mumble.
"You did exceptionally Maya."
I nod.
"Now, I call Cuddy and you call Elizabeth and Deekes," She grins.
"Yeah," I say standing up grabbing my cell phone of the table flicking it open.
I dial the number for Doctor Lambert and walk into my room. After a few rings she picks up.
"Hello?" Dr Lambert says.
"Hello, Doctor Lambert," I say. "It's Maya. Sorry for calling so early."
"Maya you know you can call me anytime. And please we've went over this, call me Liz," She says. "What's up?"
"I got my MCAT results today…"
"And…?"
"I got forty-one," I grin. "I got the scholarship."
"OH MY GOSH MAYA!" She exclaims. "I never doubted for a moment! I'm so proud of you!"
"There's also something else I need to tell you," I say. "Something that I've left out so I wouldn't disappoint you if I didn't get the results."
"Which is…?"
"I want to specialise in traumatology," I say. "I want to help people like you do."
"Maya… I don't know what to say…" She whispers. "I'm so touched and proud."
"I'm keeping the promise I made in that hospital bed when I was sixteen," I say. "I got better and I will do great things. And I want to say thank you. Thank you that you showed me that I had a future."
"I may have shown you that Maya but you did it all by yourself," She says.
"Thank you," I whisper.
"No, thank you Maya. Thank you."
Maya's POV
JUNE 2005 – GRADUATION
I stand at the edge of the steps and walk on when my name is called.
"Maya Cameron. Top of her class and going to Harvard on a scholarship to study medicine," The principal.
"Thank you," I smile shaking his hand and taking my diploma.
"You deserve it," He smiles back releasing my hand.
I walk off stage and return to my seat. I watch as the rest of my year get their diploma and grin at Deekes when he gets his.
"Deeken Harper. Set to study Science in Emergency Services at Jefferson College of Health Services in Virginia."
I was proud of him. I really was. I had thought he would have gone into the police but he'd decided to go with Emergency services. I was shocked when he told me the reason was me.
The rest of the graduation goes quickly and I manage to get through my speech without messing up or tripping. Aunt Ali grinned at me the whole way through and when it was over she practically tackled me with a hug. Cuddy, Chase, Foreman, House and Liz are close behind.
"I'm so proud of you!" She exclaims practically lifting me of the ground. The air in my lungs rushes out in a whoosh and I'm shocked at her strength in lifting me.
"Calm down!" I gasp and she releases me chuckling. Before she can say anything House cuts in.
"So this is the midget that nearly died of meningitis in my department," He says.
"HOUSE!" Cuddy exclaims.
"And you must be Doctor Gregory House; the guy with the crippled leg who was supposed to treat me when I had meningitis," I shoot back.
"MAYA!" Aunt Ali exclaims but I just smirk.
"I hear you want to be part of the medical profession; the janitor of a hospital right?" He retaliates sarcastically.
"I hear that I beat you on the MCAT and its traumatology actually."
"Okay enough!" Cuddy and Aunt Ali say in unison.
"I like her!" House smirks. "Maybe her Aunt could learn a lesson or two about her fight."
I smirk and turn to Liz who's looking at the exchange with amusement.
"Well done!" She says giving me a hug.
"Thank you," I say pulling back.
Everyone else gives me hug and after five minutes I head off to get photos. There are many tearful goodbyes to friends and teachers. We promise to stay in touch and to meet up and I hope we do. Well most of them anyway. After a while the pictures and so on dies down and Aunt Ali comes up behind me and taps me on the shoulder.
"Ready to go home and celebrate?" She says.
"Yeah, you guys go ahead," I smile. "There's something I need to do. I'll meet you back at the apartment."
"I can give you a lift if you like?"
"I'm good. Sure I cycled here anyway," I assure.
"Fine but keep your cell on," Aunt Ali says. "How long will you be?"
"No longer than an hour."
She nods and gives me a hug.
I jump off the bike and leave it beside the grassy area. I walk up and stand in front of the graves. It had been a long time since I'd been here last. I sit down between them not caring about my dress and cross my legs.
"It's been a while since I've been here," I say out loud. "I'm sorry about that. I'm sorry it's been two years."
"A lots happened since then. I'm a runner now instead of a hockey player. I'm actually the best in the state. Imagine that. The girl who hated training is now a runner.
"I graduated today. Top of my class. It was a struggle but I got there. I'm going to Harvard to study medicine. I want to be a traumatologist," I say. "Just like Doctor Lambert."
"I miss you guys so much. I wish you were here," I say tears rolling down my checks. "It's been a long two years without you guys and I think about you two every day. I wish you were here. I wish you were here. I love Mom and Dad. I love you."
I sit silently for a minute and I'm just about to stand up when I hear movement behind me.
"I knew you would be here," Aunt Ali says.
"I needed to visit them," I whisper. "I needed to tell them how I'm been doing."
"I know you did sweetheart," She says sitting beside me. "I know."
"Do you think they'll be proud?"
"Extremely," Ali whispers putting her arm around me. I lean my head on her shoulder. "And so am I. Everyone is so proud. And I know you are going to make a brilliant doctor."
"I'm scared."
"You know what?" She smirks. "So was I. I was absolutely terrified going into medical school. Everyone is."
"You were scared?" I say.
"Terrified. Maya you're going to do amazing. No matter what. I know because you're here now," Aunt Ali says. "Now let's get you home."
I nod and we both get up. I wipe my eyes with my hand and follow her to the car grabbing my bike on the way.
Everything is going to be okay.
I was going to succeed.
I will succeed. I was going to become a doctor. Against all odds I will beat the odds.
