Rise and Shine

I wake up not knowing how long I’d been asleep. I sheepishly look for my phone as I feel a slight pulsating sensation in my head. I like to think that’s my head injury and not the tumor that upheaved my life. I finally find my phone while rustling through the sheets and see that it says Thursday. I had slept for two days? Along with the date, I notice the dozen missed calls from my parents and a text from Maverick dated yesterday. I decided to call my parents back to ensure them I was okay. I’m sure they would’ve stopped by now but I recalled they had a few meetings lined of this week. My parents both sat on the board committee for Sonoma, a small city outside of San Francisco. The same city I’ve grown up in my whole life. It’s not a bad place. Just a small town of about 11,000 people with ambitions and dreams. Just not the same as mine. I wanted a legacy to reach all ends of the country whereas the legacy most people built here was a family, suburban living and comfort. After speaking with my mom for about five minutes, I change my focus to the text from Maverick.

M: Hey, you should check your email. Internship letters are supposedly being released today. Good luck!

Internship letters? Oh shit. My internship application! I scramble to grab my computer from the nightstand and log into my email. I had applied to the most prestige environmental organization located in San Francisco as a paid intern in their documentary department. I knew it was a long shot when I saw that there was one opening but I had to take my chance. I see an email labeled EnviroDoc and click on it immediately.

Email: Hello Cassandra,

We are pleased to have reviewed such a wonderful candidate like yourself and have selected your application to be further viewed. As a result, we would like to offer you the opportunity of interviewing here at our office. We have scheduled your interview for Friday at 5:00P.M. We anticipate your arrival and hope to see you then.

Signed, EnviroDoc.

I have an interview! I wanted to get up and dance but I’m sure my head would disagree with my choices. I quickly grab my phone to text Maverick back.

C: I got an interview at my top-choice internship. How did it go for you?

I waited for his response while having too much excitement to contain myself.

M: I made it to the interview process too! I think you might be a good luck charm.

C: Not likely. I have a head injury, remember?

M: Never said you were lucky for you. LOL.

He was witty. Funny even. I think I like him.

C: So where’s your interview?

I look at the screen watching the text bar blink as I wait to hear some far away place as if us meeting was something we had spoken about. I expected to read a place I’ve never heard of.

M: San Francisco, what about yours?

C: Wait really? You live in California?!

M: Yeah. I actually live in Vineburg. Is that a surprise?

Out of all the places on earth, he lives here. Not only does he live here - he lives in the next city over less than an hour away. I start losing myself in thought. Are we going to meet? How would it feel to have him wrap his arms around me? How soft his lips might be?

I snap back to reality before I let my fantasy run further. It’s been a long time since I’ve had any thoughts like that. And now was not the time to get caught up in a sex-crazed fantasy. I had to prepare for my interview. And text Maverick back, non-chalant of course.

C: I just didn’t know you would be this close. I live in Sonoma.

M: You’re joking. I go there all the time. The restaurants there are the best!

C: You’re not wrong. The food is the freshest I’ve ever had.

M: Hey, this may sound weird but maybe we can meet up after our interviews and grab something to eat. In a non-creepy way.

C: You know what, I’d like that. My interview is tomorrow at 5P.M.

M: Mine is scheduled for tomorrow at 4:30P.M. Just text me when you’re leaving your interview and I’ll just wait for you.

C: Sounds good. I’ll see you tomorrow Maverick.

M: Catch ya tomorrow Cass.

Normally I didn’t care for nicknames but I liked when he called me Cass.

Suddenly I remember I have to be at my appointment for oncology at the hospital. I shoot into my bathroom, grab a pair of jeans and a sweater, brush my teeth and tie up my hair for the sake of time. I run out the door with keys in hand and find my car. I rush to the hospital and decide to take the elevator. Running had made my head hurt and I liked the idea of staying conscious. As I stepped onto the revelatory and pressed the button for the 4th floor, I braced myself for the unimaginable. The envision of illness, death and lack of hope. I wasn’t ready. I would never be ready enough to be here, to be at this point in my life.

The point of trying not to die.