First Time Apart

"The e-mail states and I read" Gracie clears her throat, straightened her dress as though she was going to give a presidential speech and began to read
"Dear Gracie Nicholas, Congratulations! Your scholarship to study MSc. Clinical Epidemiology has been reviewed and approved. Please login to the University site to print your approval letter to be submitted at the faculty on or before 1st February, 2022.
Welcome to the Saskatchewan University. Hope to see yo Blablablabla arrrrrrghhhh yes!"

She gabbled the rest of the mail away as she jumped up throwing her fist in the air in celebration of her acceptance into the Deans Scholarship Award of the Saskatchewan University, Canada. Its like a dream come through for her. She had always wished and imagined studying her Master's degree in Canada and so she had applied for this very one as soon as she saw the information on Dtube.

"Well, Congratulations. Her Husband, Jose, said to her with
a disappointed and sad tone as he left the bed where he was sitting in front of his laptop and strolled to the baby court to pick up their 9months old baby girl, then left for the living room conscious of Gracie following behind him.

*"Honey, I just got accepted for my Masters program and you're giving me that attitude?" She said, her building irritation quite noticeable in her voice as she blocked him in the hallway just before he entered the living room.

"What attitude?" He replied still not meeting her face as he pretended to play with the baby, them followed the little space beside her into the living room carefully not to push here.

"Honey? What is the problem?" She demanded taking her baby from his hand and placing her on the high chair to allow her have the discussion she is itching for.

*"What do you mean what's the problem. You're going faraway Canada Damn it!" Her husband replied curtly taking Gracie aback.

*"What do you mean faraway Canada. You knew I was applying, didn't you?" She said with her voice slightly raised as she came standing close to his face then began to move back and forth pacing the room when he backed away from her and moved closer to the couch.

"Yes. But I didn't expect you'd get picked." He replied her while allowing his weight collapse on the velvety couch as though his legs couldn't hold him any further.

"What?" Gracie said in a hush voice, pushing her hair back in one swift move of her hand and stood arm akimbo facing her husband in disbelief.

*"You'd be gone for two years or more. How do you expect me to take that?" Replied her husband.

*Are you going to go with our baby? Are you leaving her with her grandma? How am I going to cope without you here? Who is going to take care of the house? Are you…" Jose went on listing his fears while pacing up and down the living room now.

"Stop. Please Stop." His wife cut him short. She went to sit on the couch and encouraged him to sit beside her by looking straight into his eyes and patting the space beside her. He took the invitation and he sank his weight on the couch once again,resting his head at the back of the couch while facing the ceiling.

"Honey, I could forfeit it if you are not okay with the idea of Schooling that faraway." She said, turning slightly to her side to face him.

"I don't have to go if you don't want, just that I consider this a rare opportunity and I feel like I have the enthusiasm to finally take my Masters program."

By this time, her husband had sat straight up and was listening while struggling with the confusion in his own mind. He knew how much this meant to her. He had watched her work hard at this, staying up at night when their baby was fast asleep and not there to distract her. She sacrificed her sleep to apply for the series of scholarship opportunities she found online.

It hurts his pride as well because he knew she was considering their pockets. She's opting for scholarship since they couldn't afford funding her Masters degree just yet. She always wanted to do it outside the country which is costlier than what they can afford at the moment.

"I don't even know how I would cope because I intend to go with Olivia." Gracie mentioned her concern.

Hearing their daughter's name, Jose shot his head up and looked straight to her eyes to be sure she knew what she was talking about.

"Do you even know how stressful that is going to be?" He asked with intense concern showing in his face and voice.

"No pain, no gain." She replied him staring long and hard at the curtain just behind their baby.

She had thought of it too and knew it was going to be a challenging venture. But then again she felt like she has the energy and enthusiasm to see it through. She can already picture herself rounding up the program. Plus she had a bigger picture.

"Jose, look at it this way… We have always wanted to relocate to a better Country. I'm convinced that now is the time. With Olivia and I already there, it is easier for you to join us." She explained.

Jose took her hand in his and absent mindedly focused on the hand while moving one finger or another like he was counting them "Are you sure about this?" He asked in a calm voice.

"Absolutely Honey, this is the opportunity we have been waiting for." She shook his hand with her face lighting up with happiness.

"Okay then. Let's do this my Queen!" Jose said with a sudden change in tone and countenance.

Their euphoria spreading around them and through out the living room that the 9months old Olivia who has been observing and witnessing all the different emotions joined the celebration with a giggle of her own as she hit the high chair with the toy phone in her hand.

source

       The End.