The Degrees of Obsession

Chapter9

Marilyn stared at her phone, scrolling through endless pictures of her own breakdowns and tear-streaked face. It was one habit she had kept up over the years; Whenever she was at her lowest, she'd take a quick selfie. To her, it wasn't about wallowing, but a reminder. She loved doing that because, when she looks back at those raw moments, they always reminded her how far she had come and what it took her to get to the point she is now in her life.

She had wanted to be in the medical field as long as she could remember. Her fascination with medicine started from an early age, but her earliest memory was of her watching *Grey's Anatomy* and other medical shows, curled up next to her father. Not like she understood what exactly was going on back then, but she had been drawn to the characters and how they selflessly risked everything to save lives. But what even captivated her more was learning about women's health in her early teens. From that moment on, her path was set; she was going to be a Gynecologist.

"Yo, Lyn, uh...what's the difference between *endometriosis* and *adenomyosis*? I know they both involve the uterine lining growing in the wrong places, but I keep mixing them up."

Koko asked from where she was sitting, in her newly claimed corner. Where Alyssa used to be.

There was no response from Marilyn, who was still engrossed in her phone.

Koko glanced up from her practice questions and looked at Marilyn, who had her back to her.

"Lyn!" She called out louder this time, startling Marilyn and forcing her to turn around, but not before quickly wiping the tears off her cheeks.

Koko rose from her seat slowly and walked to Marilyn's bedside with her brows furrowed in worry.

She sat beside her on the bed and held her hands in hers.

"What's wrong babe? Why are you crying?" She asked softly.

Marilyn shook her head and let out a small breathy laugh. "It's nothing serious, don't worry about it."

Koko scowled at her, although there was still warmth in her eyes. "Like hell I won't, you're my best friend, and you're crying, how do you expect me to just ignore that, silly?"

Marilyn opened her mouth, then closed it and opened it again, trying to figure out how to let the words out.

"For a long time, I asked myself," Marilyn whispered. "Am I really up to this task? Can I do this? Did I make a mistake by choosing this path? It's been so hard Koko... you're the only one who knew I turned to drinking and how bad it got. I couldn't bring myself to tell my family. And it ruined me. Looking at these pictures just made me realize I'm strong and I've pushed through."

A lone tear rolled down Marilyn's cheek. Koko, who was still holding her hands, gave them a small reassuring squeeze.

"Our finals are starting in two weeks, we are counting down to becoming Gynecologists. I'm going to be the second doctor in my family, after my brother...it feels surreal. I'm just grateful I was able to hold on and stop myself from drowning into that hollow place, and most of all, to you, for always being right here with me and helping me pull myself out of it. If it weren't for you, I probably would have been long gone now."

Koko's brown eyes were fixed on Marilyn as she spoke. Then there was a moment of comfortable silence between them. Koko reached out and swiped her thumb across Marilyn's cheek to wipe the tear that rolled down slowly.

"Hey..." she said softly, tilting Marilyn's chin up to look at her. "I'm proud of you, I've always been Marilyn. You're one strong bitch."

Marilyn laughed at that.

"You're my ride or die, and I'm willing to do this thing called life with you, wherever it takes us."

She tucked a loose tendril behind Marilyn's ear.

"I love you Koko." Marilyn muttered.

Koko flipped her curly hair to the side and got up, "I know you do." She winked and walked towards her wardrobe. "And I have something for you.

Marilyn smiled, pulling out a face wipe to clean her tear-streaked face. "What could that be?"

Koko pulled out a big white box and walked back to Marilyn's bed.

"My plan was to let this big ol' boy out as soon as we have our very last paper, you know . . ..as a celebration. But . . ..this is a celebration too, you making it this far," she said, taking the lead off the box. There laid a beautifully curved bottle of *French Bloom le Rosé* with a soft pink hue. And two wine glasses were placed carefully next to it.

Marilyn gasped, pausing mid-wipe as Koko took out the bottle and glasses carefully.

"Where did you get this? It's like $45!"

"I may have borrowed it from my dad's winery." She winked.

She pulled the cork off with a soft puff sound, making them both giggle.

"Cheers to more celebrations and accomplishments to come," Marilyn said, raising her glass as Koko poured.

"And cheers to happiness." Said Koko, clinking her glass against Marilyn's.

Koko took out her phone, clicking a few quick pictures of Marilyn before they both posed, smiling widely at the camera.

After downing the remainder of her wine, Marilyn sighed contentedly. Her mind drifting off to the question Koko asked earlier.

"In the case of Endometriosis, tissue from the womb lining grows outside of it, then as for Adenomyosis, it occurs when the womb lining tissue grows into the outer muscle wall. The key word there,

muscle."

Koko snapped her fingers. "Noted doc."

Since it was a weekend, they spent their off-day resting, shooting tik toks, laughing and watching movies in their dorm room all day.