The Degrees of Obsession

Chapter2

It's been two weeks since the death of Dr. Jane. Life moved on, and it's almost time for Marilyn to gear up for her final semester and get back on campus. It has been chaotic for her, shopping for school supplies, getting new scrubs and lab coats.

She was in her room, sorting her belongings when she heard a knock on her already opened door. Marilyn looked up from what she was doing to see her father, Steven, standing in the doorway with a smile.

She smiled back at him and motioned for him to come in.

"Hey dad."

"Hey sweetie. How's the packing going?" he asked in his slightly gruff voice.

She placed a neatly folded dress into her suitcase and shrugged,

"Stressful. I've always hated packing, although this time around, it feels different, you know, since it's my final semester, I remember my first year." She giggled at the funny memory, which made her father chuckle.

He sat on her bed and gestured for her to sit down.

When she did, he pulled out a slightly crumpled picture from his pocket and handed it over to her. She smoothened the creases and let out a small laugh.

"I can't believe you still have this."

It was a picture of a six-year-old Marilyn dressed in a lab coat and a stethoscope around her neck.

"Why wouldn't I?" He paused for some seconds before adding, "I just want you to know, I'm proud of you sweet pea. Your resilience and strength. It took you a lot to get here. The number of times you've called home, crying about giving up...it was uncountable, to the point where your mom and I had to start praying on your behalf, because we saw something in you honey, from a very young age. You were born to be a doctor Marilyn."

She kept her eyes on the picture, until they glazed over with unshed tears.

"Thank you Dad." She managed to croak out with a painful lump lodged in her throat.

Her father moved closer to her and wiped the tears that streamed down her cheeks before pulling her in for a hug.

"It's okay sweetie."

*******

"You got everything you need?" Suzanne asked as she adjusted a box into the trunk of Marilyn's black Sedan.

She scanned the opened trunk for a few seconds before nodding, "Yeah, looks like it."

She shut the trunk and turned to her mother with a small smile. "Thanks for helping me pack." She paused before asking again. "Where's Curtis anyway?"

"It's nothing sweetie-"

"Hey ladies, I see you've managed to get everything out without my help." Curtis interrupted, walking out of the house.

When he got closer, he put a hand around Marilyn's shoulders.

"I actually thought you went out. You know we barely see you in the house now, since you started making arrangements to move all the way across town. When are you fully moving out anyway?" asked Marilyn.

"Your father and I are officially going to be empty nesters pretty soon," Suzanne said, with a mix of happiness and sadness in her voice.

Curtis put his other hand around her shoulder before saying, "I'm moving out fully next month, the house still needs a few more repairs, and mom...I'll still be coming around for the holidays."

"Welp, I have to get going now."

Marilyn slipped out from under her brother's arm and turned around to face them.

Her mom pulled her in for a hug and kissed her forehead. "I love you honey, take good care of yourself."

"I will mom, I love you too."

She nudged Curtis playfully but he lifted her up and spun her around with her screaming and slapping his chest to put her down. He finally did, but not without ruffling her hair. "You're already at the finish line, I'm proud of you M, go make us proud."

She glared at him and patted her hair back into place, "Ew Curtis, those words sound weird coming from you."

He just laughed and shoved her toward the driver's side of the car.

"Alright, get going."

Marilyn got in while her brother and mother both stood together in front of the driveway. She started the car, reversed into the street and waved out the window before finally zooming off.

Marilyn bopped her head and tapped her fingers on the steering wheel to The Bee Gees "stayin' alive" blasting from her speakers as she drove through Redfield, the small town she spent most of her life in. The town is characterised by its distinctive reddish sand dunes and steel mills.

The music faded when her phone buzzed with a call from Koko.

"Hello baby girl, you on your way yet?"

Marilyn took a right turn before answering,

"I'm fifteen minutes away. Have you moved in to your dorm?"

"Yeah, just settling in. I really wish we could have gotten the same room this time."

"Me too, but it's fine. We're just a few rooms away from each other anyway." Marilyn replied.

"Yeah, you're right, but it's not going to be the same as living together in the same room. I may have to move in with you Lyn. I just met my new roomie, she's kinda creepy."

Marilyn laughed as she took another turn. "You literally just met her, how do you know she's creepy?"

"Girl, I caught her staring at me like two times. Even when I made eye contact with her, she still continued staring, without saying a single word."

"Actually, that is kinda creepy, but just give the girl a chance. Look, I'm driving, I'll call you as soon as I get into school."

"Okay babe, see you soon."

"Yeah, bye."

She ended the call and her music continued, with her still bopping her head and singing along as the campus gate came into view.