The next day, I manage to get through my final exam in Greek Civilization. I was fortunate enough to have already been going over my notes on an intermittent basis, and I was especially fortunate to have studied alongside other students in the library. Yesterday was a doozy, not just because of Van's funeral but also that final exam in Introduction to Philosophy. At least Professor Faulken let us use our notes. Professor Read... he assigned the final exam as an online exam, and he specifically stated that we were to only use past assignments as references. We couldn't use outside sources. No problemo, I'm able to finish this in no time.

After wrapping up my Greek Civilization final exam and submitting it through Canvas, I decide it might be a good idea and stop by a Starbucks for a quick bite to eat. I head on over to the one on 391 George Street, rush inside the coffee shop and waste no time getting in line for some food and a drink. To pass the time, I pull out my iPhone from my coat, plug in some earphones and place them in my ears, and proceed to listen to "Vanilla Twilight" by Owl City. The song reminds me of me and April.

I'll watch the night turn light blue,
But it's not the same without you;
Because it takes two to whisper quietly.
The silence isn't so bad
'Til I look at my hands and feel sad;
'Cause the spaces between my fingers
Are right where yours fit perfectly.

It's been somewhat sad for me lately. The last time April and I got to hang out in person was during Thanksgiving recess. I won't have to wait too much longer, though. Winter recess is around the corner.

I'll find repose in new ways,
Though I haven't slept in two days;
'Cause cold nostalgia chills me to the bone.
But drenched in vanilla twilight,
I'll sit on the front porch all night,
Waist deep in thought because when
I think of you, I don't feel so alone.

The line moves surprisingly quickly, but I don't pay it too much mind. I'm at the front of the line now, and it's time I got myself something to eat and drink. The cashier asks me for my order. I tell her that I want an iced lemon loaf and a Sugar Cookie Almond Milk Latte. After the cashier has me tell her my name and confirm my order, I hand her the money and then wait patiently for my order to arrive. In the meantime, I can't help but spot Professor Read out of the corner of my eye. Oh my God, what's he doing here? His wife and kids are with him, too. Did they also decide to stop by and get something here?

"Oh, h-hey, Professor Read..." I greet him with an awkward laugh. "I sure wasn't expecting to see you here."

Professor Read just chuckles, thinking this whole scenario is actually pretty funny. "I could say the same to you, Miss Harvey-Dahl. Just getting something to eat after that big exam you took?"

"Oh yeah... hey, did you know my great-grandfather very well? I saw you there at the funeral yesterday."

"Sorry, I didn't really know Mr. Hohenheim all that well, but I did talk with them when we weren't teaching. He seemed like an altruistic man, really scholarly too. It's funny, though. I remember when he told me this story about how he met his wife Trisha while she was studying abroad in Berlin where he happened to be teaching."

"What was he teaching over there anyway?"

"I can't remember now, but I think it had something to do with the German language, I don't know. Anyway, he met this woman Trisha while they both happened to be in Germany around the same time. I think he also said that there was an age difference of at least sixteen years between them. Personally, I think an age gap that big is a little skeevy. After all, he looked like he was old enough to be her dad. Apparently, though, it didn't matter in the grand scheme of things. They'd been happily married for years until about twenty-five years ago when Trisha got COVID-19 before she could get vaccinated and died."

My face drops and I cast my eyes to the floor. "Oh my God."

Professor Read sadly nods. "Yeah, it was tragic."

All of a sudden, I hear the cashier call out my name. I quickly realize that my order is ready and grab it before I can forget.

"Ah, I see you ordered an iced lemon loaf and a Sugar Cookie Almond Milk Latte," Professor Read observes. "Do you mind sitting down and talking with my family?"

"Not at all." I point to a small table where a woman in her late fifties and three adults who appear to be in their thirties are sitting. "Is that your family?"

"Yes. Come. Join us."

"Okay."

I sit down with Arthur and his family. The woman in her late fifties (I'm guessing Francine) has brown skin and dark brown hair that's styled into a flapper bob. She wears one of those novelty ugly Christmas sweaters with reindeer stitched across her chest, but it's mainly in various shades of red. The ugly Christmas sweater she's wearing is also paired with dark mom jeans and dark combat boots. The kids are also wearing ugly Christmas sweaters in three different colors from their mother's red sweater. The two oldest (I'm guessing the twins Romy and Nigel) seem to take a lot after their parents, with their hair in particular being a dark brown just like Francine's. Romy's also inherited their father's blue eyes, though Nigel's got their mother's brown eyes. As for Patrick, he's the only one of the kids who inherited their father's blond hair. Patrick's also got their mother's brown eyes like Nigel. All of the kids have brown skin in various shades, with Romy and Patrick in particular being much lighter shades than Nigel.

"Hello," I greet Francine and the kids. "I guess you're Professor Read's wife and kids?"

Francine gives me a nod. "Yes, yes, we are. I'm Francine, and these little ones are our kids. Romy and Nigel are twins, and Patrick's the baby of the family."

"Cool, though I already know of a different Patrick." I take a few bites out of my iced lemon loaf. "Is there anything else I can call little Patrick?"

"Sure, you can just call him Pat."

"Okay, 'Pat' sounds good. So... how's your week been?"

"Well, we attended your great-grandfather's funeral and we talked for a bit with Adrianah, Xenobia, and Rocky while we were there. I actually quite enjoyed their company. Their mother Jesse seems very nice, too. We also did some Christmas shopping earlier, and we've been preparing to celebrate Hanukkah later this month. This year, we start celebrating the day before Christmas Eve."

"Oh, that's cool. My cousin Steven and his dad celebrate Hanukkah, too."

"That's great. I guess if they ever come back to New Jersey, we could celebrate together."

"Yeah, that would be nice." I quickly check my watch. "I'll have to head out in just a few minutes. Before I go, anything else you want to talk about?"

Romy chimes in. "Sure. Have I ever told you about the antics my kids have been getting up to?"

I just sit and listen while Romy spins yarns about her children. In the meantime, I take a few more bites out of my iced lemon loaf and then take a few sips out of my Sugar Cookie Almond Milk Latte. In that moment, I'm already taking in that Christmas spirit and taking in every moment as though it might be my last.