I walk towards him and place my hands on his face. “You keep telling me that I’m doing great, but so are you. And I’ll say it every day if I have to.”
Finn’s eyes glisten, and he groans softly. “With you by my side, I can do anything.”
CHAPTER 24
FINN THOMPSON
After my class, my professor asks me to stay behind. I tense, pondering what it could be about. Maybe I’m failing. Maybe I’m useless at this. Maybe I just need to give up now before I embarrass myself further.
“Finn,” he says as he leans against the edge of the desk. “I just wanted to congratulate you on a great assignment.”
My brows rise in surprise. “Congratulate me?”
“Yeah…” He trails off as he tilts his head. “Did you receive your grade and feedback?”
I adjust my bag on my shoulder. “Uh, I got the email. I didn’t have the courage to open it.”
“Why?”
“I guess, no matter the result, I won’t be able to change it. I didn’t want it to dishearten me, so I decided not to know,” I state. “I think it was better that way.”
Whenever I used to get bad grades, I’d always head down to the SU bar and get a pint of beer, but one was never enough. It would end up being multiple, and then I’d forget the rest of the night.
It almost became a habit, and my assignments were terrible because of how often I got drunk, and the days I spent hungoverwere a myth. I wasn’t even giving myself a chance to try; I gave up long ago.
I’m surprised the university even let me finish my final year after some of the atrocious grades I got last year. I didn’t turn up to some of my exams, I didn’t hand in papers, and I definitely didn’t go to all my lectures. It was a fucking mess, and I never want to stoop that low again.
My professor studies me for a long moment. “I understand where you’re coming from, Finn, but you honestly excelled at this assignment.”
“Really?”
He nods confidently. “It’s the best work I’ve seen in a while.”
My mouth falls open in surprise. “Thank you, professor.”
“Take a look at the email,” he says encouragingly. “I promise, if anything, it’s going to boost and motivate you more. And there is feedback and comments to help with future assignments, too.”
“Alright.” I step back. “I will.”
“Have a good one, Finn,” he says as he waves a hand at me.
As I exit the auditorium, I dig my phone from my pocket and click on the hidden folder in my email. I put it there so it was out of sight, out of mind. My thumb hovers over the screen as I ponder opening the email.
My professor wouldn’t lie to me about the grade. Why would he? He’d want to see me celebrate my achievements.
Without a second thought, I click on the email.
80. I got an 80.
I blink in shock. I’ve never got an 80 in my life.
Hell, I’ve never got a first before, either.
The pride that warms my chest is almost painful. It’s alien, and it’s been a long time since I’ve felt proud of myself. And this is just another reason to keep going. All those times I was drowning in alcohol, I was ruining my future.
But this? It gives me hope that it’s not too late to make a difference.
“You seem rather optimistic today, Finn,”my therapist, Samuel, says.
