My run let me hit the reset button and brought my thoughts into focus once the adrenaline kicked in. I had a lot on my mind, and the weight of my future felt like it was laying across both shoulders. I was warned that I would be making a lot of sacrifices when I told everyone that I wanted to become a doctor—sacrifice just came with the territory. While my friends from high school were throwing their hats in the air to celebrate graduating from college, I was preparing for medical school. They found jobs, started earning money, and chipped away at their student loans while I accumulated more. Medical school wasn’t a breeze by any means, but it was just one more step. As soon as it was over, I started my residency—and I had one more year until I would officially be done with it. It was hard to remember the kid I used to be that just wanted to become a doctor so I could help people. I don’t think I really understood what I would be giving up in order to devote my life to an honorable cause.
Those sacrifices didn’t sound that bad when I was eighteen, but I’ll be thirty-one in a few months—and the loneliness has finally started to catch up with me.
Most of my friends from high school were married—some of them already had kids in middle school. I didn’t even have a girlfriend, much less a wife. Dating was practically impossible while I was in medical school, and while life was a little easier after I started my residency, it still made relationships hard. Some of the doctors I worked with at the hospital were able to successfully balance their love life with their professional one, but I struggled with it. I spent too much time analyzing why the relationship wouldn’t work instead of living in the moment. I wasn’t even sure it was possible to fall in love. That was more complicated than diagnosing patients or recommending the right treatment. There was no prescription for falling in love—it was far too complex for modern medicine.
Maybe one day I’ll meet someone that changes my perspective, but I have my doubts—my mentor drives a Maserati to work every day and has a new girlfriend every other week. He seems like the happiest guy in the world…
Later that day
I took a week off work to move into my new house, and unpacking boxes was the only thing I had to worry about until it was time to return, so I spent the day doing that. I didn’t have enough furniture to fill my home, but that would come in time. The house had been on the market for a while, and I considered it a steal. I was tired of living in a small apartment in downtown Los Angles—suburbia was a lot more appealing. The neighborhood was close to the hospital where I was completing my residency, and there were plenty of jobs available in the area, so it seemed like a good investment, especially considering the fact that I was going to own the house one day instead of just dumping money into a rental.
Was that my doorbell? I have a doorbell!
The chime echoed through the house and snapped me out of my thoughts. I wasn’t expecting anyone. My sister was supposed to stop by on Sunday to offer some tips on interior design, and my parents wanted to wait until I was settled before they scheduled their first visit. I walked to the door, pushed the curtain away from the side window, and saw my neighbor standing on the front porch. I met her earlier in the day before I went for a run—and it appeared that she was holding a plate of cookies. My neighbors in my apartment complex barely said hello when I passed them in the morning. Life is suburbia was definitely going to be different. I leaned back to make sure I was presentable and then reached for the doorknob.
“Hi! It was Holly, right?” I tilted my head to the side and smiled.
A beautiful name for a beautiful girl…
“Yep! That’s me!” She nodded, and her face lit up with an amazing smile. “I was in a hurry this morning, so I didn’t really get a chance to officially welcome you to the neighborhood.”
“Please, come in.” I took a step back. “My house is a bit of a mess right now—I apologize.”
“No need to apologize. I understand.” She walked through the front door and held up the plate she was holding. “I hope you like chocolate chip cookies.”
“I think everyone likes chocolate chip cookies.” I chuckled under my breath.
“They’re fresh out of the oven.” She pulled back the clear plastic wrap that was covering them and invited me to try one.
“Wow!” I picked up one of the cookies, and it was warm to the touch—I took a bite, and it practically melted in my mouth. “I have some milk in the fridge. Would you like a glass? I’ll never be able to eat all of these on my own…”
“I might have already had one—to make sure they were good…” She winced, but it was comical and looked cute.
“That’s fine. One cookie is never enough.” I carried the plate into the kitchen and motioned for her to follow me.
“That’s true…” She shrugged, and her smile quickly returned.
Holly was drop-dead gorgeous with a natural beauty that was practically dazzling. She had light brown hair with auburn highlights that looked like they were put there by the sun, hazel colored eyes that seemed to sparkle when she spoke, and curves that were impossible not to notice. I could tell she was young—probably late teens or early twenties—she had a youthful glow that hadn’t been extinguished yet. I used to have that glow too when I was younger—before stress started to slowly grind it away in medical school.
“Here you go.” I put two glasses on the table and filled them with milk. “Now we can eat cookies the right way.”
“Thank you.” She picked one of them up, took a bite, and then chased it with milk.
“These are so good you really don’t even need milk.” I finished my first cookie and immediately reached for another one.
“I’m glad I didn’t screw them up,” she laughed. “I’ve never made cookies on my own before.”
“Ah, you still live with your parents?” I raised an eyebrow.
“For a few more days.” She nodded. “Then I’m off to college…”
“Oh?” I felt a hint of disappointment sweep through me. “Where are you headed?”
“The University of Arizona.” She took a bite of her cookie and followed it with a sip of milk.
“Good school.” I leaned back in my chair. “What are you going to be majoring in?”
“Um…” She looked down. “I’m not really sure. I used to think I wanted to be a teacher, but I don’t know if I really want that kind of responsibility. I’ve been leaning more towards Applied Science or Business Administration lately—something that will help me get a good job after I graduate.”