No Limits
Cindra pulled herself out of bed by dint of willpower alone. She had spent the last week stuck in a quagmire of thoughts of what might have been if only she had reacted differently to Dan’s suggestion that they take a year off school and travel.
Cindra had been so fixated on her timeline, her vision of the future so limited. Finish undergrad in four years. Check. She had had to take summer classes each year to do it, but she had accomplished her goal. Next up on the list was straight on to law school, and then articling.
With half of her first year of law school completed, Cindra had collapsed, burned out and depressed. The dean had said she could come back next year and start again. The doctor treating her depression kept repeating that to her, as though that was what was bothering her.
Except the real problem was that Dan was backpacking across Europe with Les, instead of with her. She could have spent this year resting and having fun. Her insistence on adhering to a timeline that only mattered in her head had not only cost her the school year. it had kept her from taking advantage of a once in a lifetime travel opportunity.
Dan’s ringtone sang from her phone. His weekly calls were the one bright spot in her life right now. “Hey,” She said, a slight smile breaking through despite her gloomy thoughts.
“Hey babe. I miss you so much.”
“I miss you too.” Cindra fought back the tears that threatened to come. Dan didn’t need that.
“Check your email.”
“What? Why?” Cindra sat down at her computer while Dan waited. Her eyes bugged out of her head when she saw what he had sent. “An e-ticket? Are you crazy?” Despite the insanity of it, her heart soared.
“I don’t want to spend the next three months missing you. And you’re missing out on the time of your life.” Dan blew her a kiss, a sheepish look on his face. “Say yes. It’s non-refundable.”
“Yes!” Cindra shouted. She couldn’t change the mistake she had made last summer in not deferring her acceptance to law school. But she also wasn’t going to miss this chance to meet up with Dan and Les for the last half of the trip.
Looking closer, she realized the ticket was for tonight. “OMG, I have to pack.” Not knowing whether to laugh or cry, she did both as she grabbed her backpack from the closet.
Laura brought me a four-line poem as a prompt. As usual, I think I may have strayed a bit from the exact meaning of the poem, but I think I touched its heart.
I’ll place no limits
On my tomorrows
By searching for
My yesterdays
Leave a comment and feel free to share this story if you enjoyed it.
If you’re enjoying reading my stories, please consider supporting my work. Paid subscriptions are still 20% off until April 15th. That’s only a few more days!
I enjoyed the story, Dascha, and I’m happy Cindra was given a second chance!
What liberation to follow your true heart's calling. Nice prompt from Laura!