The Last Lecture
559 Words
Adrian’s last lecture before sabbatical was packed.
Students who’d never shown up before were there, notebooks out, phones on silent. Everyone knew. Word spread fast in a department this small. Dr. Cole was leaving for a year.
Elena sat in the back row, pretending she was just another student. She’d worn black, like she was going to a funeral.
He didn’t look at her once during the lecture. His voice was steady, professional, distant. He explained the final proof like it was just another problem, not like it was the last thing he’d teach her for a year.
When the bell rang, no one moved.
“Any questions?” he asked.
Silence.
“Then good luck on finals,” he said. “Class dismissed.”
People started filing out, but Elena stayed seated. She waited until the room was empty except for them.
He was erasing the board slowly, like he didn’t want to finish.
“Elena,” he said without turning around. “You shouldn’t be here.”
“Why not?”
“Because this is harder when you’re here.”
She stood up and walked down the aisle. Stopped three steps away from him.
“Then make it easier,” she said.
He set the eraser down.
“I can’t.”
“Why? Because of her?”
“Because of everything,” he said. “Because I’m 34 and you’re 20. Because I’m your professor. Because I gave my word to someone else.”
“So break it,” she said.
He flinched like she’d slapped him.
“Don’t say that.”
“Why not? It’s true. You look at me like you want to.”
“That doesn’t matter,” he said. “What matters is what I do about it.”
“And what are you doing?”
“I’m leaving,” he said. “For a year. To give both of us time to think straight.”
Elena felt something cold settle in her chest.
“So that’s it? You’re just leaving?”
“I’m protecting you,” he said. “From me. From this.”
She laughed, but there was no humor in it.
“You don’t get to decide that for me, Adrian.”
He looked at her then. Really looked at her. The mask slipped, and she saw it. The want, the fear, the guilt. All of it.
“You don’t understand what you’re asking,” he said.
“Then make me understand.”
He took a step toward her. Stopped.
“If I kiss you right now, I lose everything. My job. My engagement. My reputation.”
“Then don’t kiss me,” she said.
He exhaled, frustrated, torn.
“Elena…”
“Goodbye, Dr. Cole,” she said, and turned to leave.
“Adrian,” he said behind her.
She stopped.
“What?”
“My name is Adrian,” he said. “When I come back, if you’re still here… use it.”
She didn’t answer. She walked out before she could change her mind.
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In the hallway, she leaned against the wall and pressed a hand to her chest. It felt like her heart was trying to break out.
She had nine months.
Nine months to decide if waiting for him was worth it.
Nine months for him to decide if leaving her was worth it.
- Writer
