The Daughter They Abandoned Is The Doctor They Can’t Reach Chapter 27
Before winter break, our model passed the internal review for a university research grant.
Professor Warren projected the notice on the screen.
“Next semester, you’ll have access to the formal dataset, and you’ll get dedicated lab time.”
Under the table, Eli held out his fist.
I bumped it with mine.
As we walked out of class, he asked, “Co-first authors?”
“Obviously.”
“You’re not allowed to dump all the data cleaning on me just because you came up with the core structure.”
“That depends on whether you’re late tomorrow.”
“I’ve only been late once.”
We argued all the way to the library and ended up sitting at the same table anyway.
Campus got much quieter over the break.
I applied to stay on campus. My scholarship covered housing, and the lab let me keep using the equipment.
On Christmas Eve afternoon, I got an email from Tessa.
She didn’t speak for my parents, and she didn’t ask when we could go back to how things used to be.
“I already told Uncle and Auntie that I won’t contact you on their behalf anymore. I never touched the money in the 529 account. What they did with it afterward was their choice.”
“I used to think that as long as I offered to lend you things, I was being kind. Now I understand those things never should have been mine to give away in the first place.”
At the end of the email, she said she was still in therapy and had started handling her own coursework and application materials.
“This isn’t to ask for forgiveness. I just wanted to tell you that I’m going to live my own life.”
I remembered the last thing I had said to her on the phone.
I replied:
*Received. Take care of yourself.*
No greeting. No promise about the future.
That was everything I was willing to give her for now.
After I sent it, I went back to organizing experiment data.
Snow started falling outside. Eli pushed open the door with two coffees in his hands.
“The campus café closes at five. I got the last two.”
He set the unsweetened one down by my hand.
I glanced at the time.
“Let’s get dinner first.”
Eli froze for a second, then broke into a grin.
“You’re reminding *me* to eat now?”
“Forget it if you don’t want to go.”
“I want to go. Obviously.”
I closed my laptop and stepped out into the snow with him.