Professor C (camren)

16.5 - Jauregui (Part 2)

"I can work weekends, Miss. But if there are no summer classes, I can work double time for four months and save some money to overload and not have to work as much when school is back." Jessica reasoned fervently, a telltale sign that she had made up her mind but only needed Lauren's approval to pursue it. She let out a frustrated huff as she clasped her hands together and set them on her lap. "I just...I just want to get this done and over with so I can look for a better job."

"Okay." Lauren relented, continually scrutinizing her student just to measure her conviction and as far as her professional assessment was concerned, she found that Jessica's was unwavering and steadfast. And it meant there was no arguing. "As long as you're sure about this."

"I am."

Lauren was awfully familiar with balancing work and her education. She was a full-time employee at the local hospital while accomplishing her MA in Counseling Psychology. She had done a multitude of voluntary work to further her career and add more tabs to her résumé. Apart from that, she was in pursuit of a person who never wanted to be found.

Lauren would have loved to be told what to do - to be guided in her steps but and directed to a fruitful route, something Rob yearned for as well. Then again, it was an irony that she was the person Camila was escaping from and yet, she had more clues as to her whereabouts, even if they weren't enough; well, until January of the same year.

It would also be rational to acknowledge that Jessica possessed the same determination as Lauren. Despite the difference in what drove them, they were in a race against time and the burden of getting to the finish line often warded of words of concern from those who simply care.

Her experiences alone told Lauren it was futile to even reason with her student; especially, when Jessica had already made up her mind.

Letting out a sigh, Lauren nodded to acknowledge the student's decision. She followed the creases of the document and folded it back up, subsequently handing the piece of paper back to its owner but not without ensuring she had offered Jessica a sympathetic smile.

"Anything else you want to talk about?" Lauren reached up and brushed her hair back, tangling her fingers in the dark tresses and proceeded to tuck strands behind her ear.

It didn't take much deliberation to understand the subliminal message Lauren was implying. Frankly, Jessica anticipated that question. She would have divulged on her family life sooner had Lauren been able to restrain herself.

Regardless, the student knew where the psychologist was coming from, and it was from the same vicinity as care and affection.

While Rob had a niece, Jessica was a youngest daughter to a drunk, who barely earned enough money to keep up with her addiction and a sister to two brothers who didn't want anything to do with their mother. Jessica's father had abandoned his family a year and a half prior, snapping what was left of her mother's sanity and triggering her dependency on alcohol.

And still, both Lauren and Jessica knew there were so many other choices than lean on a substance.

The guarantee of maturity didn't always come with age, Lauren concluded. For the lucky ones, maturity gradually happens with accountability coming in small, bearable increments throughout the years of a developing child. Unfortunately, when normal circumstances merely drizzle, other times, it pours and it tended to be overwhelming.

Unorthodox as it may be, sometimes children care for their parents and whatever wisdom they gain would come from what should not be done.

Lauren admired those kids.

"Nothing's changed." Jessica remorsefully admitted with an audible dejected huff. She had bowed her head once more and pursed her lips as if to formulate the right words to avoid a scenario where Lauren would begin to pity her instead of merely sympathizing with her. "It's still pretty tough and she's still as...stubborn as ever. I just...I want to finish this to get a better job and maybe get her into rehab, even alcoholics anonymous would be great, or have enough money to demand for things to change because right now, those two options aren't in front of me."