Perfect Assumptions

“Harper Smith” echoed in Isis’ head as she stood in front of the man she shared a dance with just two nights ago. As she smiled and shook his hand, small panic started to work its way up her spine. Ignoring the tingling in her spine, she recited the speech she prepared while she was en-route to campus.

“Well, Mr. Smith, it is great to finally meet you. Again, I’m sorry that I’m late. Morning traffic was a little heavier than usual. It looks like you’ve gotten yourself settled in.” Isis said as she looked around him and at his bag and books that were already set up on the table.

“Have you already gotten your usernames for the computer systems and Coursework?” Isis trailed on as Harper examined her facial features and was almost lost for words at how beautiful she was. The dark didn’t do her justice, he thought to himself. His eyes searched her eyes to see if there was a sense of familiarity but she was hard to read.  Isis could tell he wasn’t listening to her, so she politely waved her hand in front of his to get his attention.

“Oh…umm. Yes ma'am” Harper responded as he scratched his head.

“I read over the class schedule and you’ll be teaching two classes this semester. I hope that isn’t too much for you starting off.” 

“No ma’am not at all. I’m actually excited about teaching here. It’s always been my dream to teach at Columbia University.” 

“Well when you have a minute after you have gotten through your first day of classes, stop by my office. Until then, I’ll leave you to it.” Isis said as the first couple of students started to trickle in. As Isis started her way back up the stairs she came down, the few early students greeted her with warm hellos, she politely waved back but her mind was somewhere else. As she took the last step, she quickly looked over her shoulder to make sure what just happened actually did. Seeing that Harper was still standing in the same place with a devilish smile on his face, she knew that it was real.

“Harper Smith” echoed in Isis’ head as she stood in front of the man she shared a dance with just two nights ago. As she smiled and shook his hand, small panic started to work its way up her spine. Ignoring the tingling in her spine, she recited the speech she prepared while she was en-route to campus.

“Well, Mr. Smith, it is great to finally meet you. Again, I’m sorry that I’m late. Morning traffic was a little heavier than usual. It looks like you’ve gotten yourself settled in.” Isis said as she looked around him and at his bag and books that were already set up on the table.

“Have you already gotten your usernames for the computer systems and Coursework?” Isis trailed on as Harper examined her facial features and was almost lost for words at how beautiful she was. The dark didn’t do her justice, he thought to himself. His eyes searched her eyes to see if there was a sense of familiarity but she was hard to read.  Isis could tell he wasn’t listening to her, so she politely waved her hand in front of his to get his attention.

“Oh…umm. Yes ma'am” Harper responded as he scratched his head.

“I read over the class schedule and you’ll be teaching two classes this semester. I hope that isn’t too much for you starting off.” 

“No ma’am not at all. I’m actually excited about teaching here. It’s always been my dream to teach at Columbia University.” 

“Well when you have a minute after you have gotten through your first day of classes, stop by my office. Until then, I’ll leave you to it.” Isis said as the first couple of students started to trickle in. As Isis started her way back up the stairs she came down, the few early students greeted her with warm hellos, she politely waved back but her mind was somewhere else. As she took the last step, she quickly looked over her shoulder to make sure what just happened actually did. Seeing that Harper was still standing in the same place with a devilish smile on his face, she knew that it was real.

“Harper Smith” echoed in Isis’ head as she stood in front of the man she shared a dance with just two nights ago. As she smiled and shook his hand, small panic started to work its way up her spine. Ignoring the tingling in her spine, she recited the speech she prepared while she was en-route to campus.

“Well, Mr. Smith, it is great to finally meet you. Again, I’m sorry that I’m late. Morning traffic was a little heavier than usual. It looks like you’ve gotten yourself settled in.” Isis said as she looked around him and at his bag and books that were already set up on the table.

“Have you already gotten your usernames for the computer systems and Coursework?” Isis trailed on as Harper examined her facial features and was almost lost for words at how beautiful she was. The dark didn’t do her justice, he thought to himself. His eyes searched her eyes to see if there was a sense of familiarity but she was hard to read.  Isis could tell he wasn’t listening to her, so she politely waved her hand in front of his to get his attention.

“Oh…umm. Yes ma'am” Harper responded as he scratched his head.

“I read over the class schedule and you’ll be teaching two classes this semester. I hope that isn’t too much for you starting off.” 

“No ma’am not at all. I’m actually excited about teaching here. It’s always been my dream to teach at Columbia University.” 

“Well when you have a minute after you have gotten through your first day of classes, stop by my office. Until then, I’ll leave you to it.” Isis said as the first couple of students started to trickle in. As Isis started her way back up the stairs she came down, the few early students greeted her with warm hellos, she politely waved back but her mind was somewhere else. As she took the last step, she quickly looked over her shoulder to make sure what just happened actually did. Seeing that Harper was still standing in the same place with a devilish smile on his face, she knew that it was real.

Sarai Nazaire

“Superstar, I’ll see you next week.”

Without a verbal response, I lazily threw up my arm to bid the notoriously loud mouthed and yet highly esteemed Steven A. Smith a wave as I trekked towards the elevator. Once my middle finger tapped the round button so that it would illuminate, my head lightly plopped against the wall in frustration and yet an ounce of relief filled my core at the reality that I’d be on my way out of Bristol, Connecticut within the next couple of minutes. The faint ding signifying the elevator’s arrival couldn’t come fast enough but much like I had been doing for the last thirty minutes or so, I dragged myself onto it and allowed the doors to close without ever pressing the button for the ground floor. In its stillness, I briefly centered my thoughts with deep breaths as I’d learned to do in bullshit meditation sessions but the lax state of mind I sought after never happened within my form. I accepted that particular defeat as I finally pressed the button to descend to my awaiting chauffeured SUV.