18 THE FIRST DAY

I got up from my chair and went straight to bedroom. Rick as still sleeping peacefully. I turned to my cupboard and move my clothes aside and took out a brown box with golden lining at its edges. I sat on the couch and put the box in my lap. I looked at Rick to make sure he was still sleeping. I opened the box without making any noise. It was filled with different things or say it was my hidden treasure...all the things those were close to me...I have put them all here together...protected from everyone and everything. From the box I took out an old diary with leather cover. I looked at its cover for a while and put it on table. Then I closed the box and put it back at its original place. I closed the cupboard took the diary in my hand and came back to the garden. I sat on the chair and looked at the moon.

Then I turned my gaze toward the leather diary. It was old.

“MEMORIES.” The title read.

I flip the cover and landed on the first page. There was a family picture on it. I, mom, dad and Judith, We all were smiling in the picture. Mom and dad were so young at that time. I and Judith were about fifteen. There was another picture too. It was of grandma and grandpa with me and Judith. It was taken by mom when we visited them during our summer vacations. I used to wait for summer breaks so that I could visit them.

With all those memories I keep on flipping the pages. I was reliving my past life. And then I flipped one more page when it all came back to me.

It was a picture of me and Judith on our graduation ceremony. It was taken by dad. We all were so happy that day.

“Oh dear lord! My girls are graduates from university now.” Dad said taking both of his girls in his embrace. Me and Judith, both were giggling. Mom was crying with happiness. Everyone was greeting everyone on the grand day. Then we all move to the refreshment area were we met out parents with other friends and their parents. Everyone was having a great time. Everyone was laughing and calling each other with their nick names. Most probably because some of us were going to work in different cities, some were going abroad and some were still here for further studies. It was our last chance to see each other like this. We took so many pictures. After the ceremony we had dinner outside and came home very late. I don’t remember exactly what time it was but it was dark enough that all roads were so empty like a dead city. We just came back and went directly to sleep to our rooms. Dad was so drunk that he didn’t even care about clothes and landed on his bed.

I smiled sadly as the memories filled my mind. Again I flipped to next page. It was a picture of me and Judith outside the college.

FIRST DAY. It was our first day at college after graduation. We both were so excited. Dad dropped us to the college gate and took this picture.

“Take care. Study hard and make new friends.” He said waving at both of us. We made back at him and made our way inside the huge building. It was so rush in side. So many new faces were around. International students were also there.

“There. That’s my place.” Judith said pointing at a door. It was her lecture hall. We moved toward it and entered. Some seats are occupied some were still empty.

“Wow. It’s so good here.” She said looking around still standing at door.

“Okay. Now listen to me.” I said pulling her away from the door toward me in the corridor. “You get a seat and don’t do anything stupid. I’m going to look for mine class.” She was looking at boys who were passing by our side. I cupped her chin in my hand and turn it toward me. “Ouch. That hurts.” She said flitching my hand off her chin.

“Are you listening...?” I asked her.

“Ya.” She said bluntly.

“Okay then. We will meet in lunch at main hall.” I said as she was again staring at an afro guy. I bumped her with my fist in her arm. She looked at me and shrugged.

“I’m going.” I said making my way toward staircase. She waved at me and went inside lecture hall.

I was still looking at the hall numbers to find my destination. Suddenly a lady with a book in her left hand and a coffee cup in another passed by my side. I didn’t pay much attention to her but the aroma of coffee was so strong that I couldn’t resist but turn.

“Excuse me miss...?” I said gaining her attention. She turned and looked at me. “Yes dear...?” she said with her honey sweet voice. It was so touching that I can’t her but smile at her.

“Um. Can you please tell me where is hall no. A- 7.” I said still smiling at her.

“Oh. Just go straight and turn to left. It’s first door.” She said smiling at me.

“Oh. Thank you Miss.” I said adjusting my bad on my shoulder.

“Fresher...?” she asked me.

“Yes miss.” I replied.

“Hmm. Arts and literature. What’s your name darling...?” she asked me with amazement.

“I’m Licia Chohen miss.” I said. She balanced her coffee cup on the book in another hand and pulled her hand out toward me.

“Very pretty name. We will see each other around often then.” We shake hands and she took her coffee cup off her book and moved quickly on the way. I was still standing at my place like a statue until when someone bumped in me.

“Hey! Get out of way!” said a female voice.

“Ahh. I’m sorry. I didn’t see you.” I said helping her with her books which were spreading on floor due to the small accident.

“Are you blind...?” she said snatching her books from my hands. I rolled my eyes at her and stood up ready to walk away when she stopped me.

“Wait.” She said standing up holding her books close to her chest.

“What? I already said sorry.” I said turning toward her.

“Can you tell me where is A-7...?” She asked me with a blunt face.

“Are you a fresher too...?” I asked her. She nodded. “Follow me.” I said.

I tried to take some books from her hands but she resisted.

“It will hurt my pride.” She said leaving me with a confused face. We both entered our class. It was almost empty. Only few seats were occupied.

“Very less students.” I said.

“Very less people have good taste.” She said winking at me. I smiled at her action. We both sat in fourth row.

“So you are...?” she said looking at me.

“I’m Licia Chohen.” I said taking a few sips of water from my bottle.

“I’m Doris Rubord.” She said smiling at me. “I hope we can be good friends besides our bad first meeting.” She added turning her gaze away from me. “Amen!” I said and we both ended up laughing with teary eyes.

After a while more seats get occupied and a bell rang. Shuffling can be heard outside. Just after a few moments, a lady entered the hall with a book in her left hand. It was the same lady who helped me outside.

“Good morning ladies and gentlemen.” She said standing at podium.

“Good morning!” everyone yelled in unison.

“I’m Victoria Henderson. I will be your coordinator and will deal with English major.” She said with a smile. “I want everyone be on time for lectures and not to disappoint me with their disobedient behaviour.” She added looking at her students who were sitting there without any reaction. “Also I need a volunteer who will be responsible for passing important messages and will lead as a representative from your side.” She said turning her gaze to the water bottle that was there on the table. She moved to the table and opened the bottle cap, pour some water in the glass which was resting very next to the bottle and took few sips. Then she turned moving back to her previous position. “So anyone who wants to volunteer...?” she asked fixing her gaze on me.

I almost chocked on my saliva when she stared at me like that. I took my water bottle and took a few sips of water. The hall was still silent.

Suddenly she took few steps toward the table and gulped a few sips of water. Then she shifts her momentum and walks toward the seats and stood right beside me. She turned toward me and put her hand on my shoulder and made her announcement.

“Dear class, please welcome Miss Licia Chohen as you representative.”

“Oh no!” I thought to myself. I stood up from my seat and introduced myself to everyone. Then she return back to her table and took our first lecture. It was good and interesting. Her way of explaining things despite if her looks and body language, I was able to concentrate on that. After an hour the buzzer gave a sound and she bid her farewell to the students. While leaving the hall she stood at the door and made a small eye contact with me as if she was telling something.

“What was that...?” I thought to myself. And just like that the whole day went like blink of eyes.