“And if classes are dropped or canceled, refunds are issued,” he said, summarizing a policy we both knew had nothing to do with me.
I wasn’t getting a refund of any kind, but he said it anyway to lighten the blow, I guessed.
My chin lifted, my nails digging into my rain-soaked black jeans. “What’s going on with my account, Mr. Tactine?”
He leaned back in his lumpy chair, a hideous groan coming from it as it took his weight, a regretful sigh leaving him. “Margo, the university has tried collecting payment for your next semester three times in the last week and all have been denied.”
Suddenly, my hands were sticky, and I needed to get out of this chair.
“I have money,” I stated.
My adviser blinked but carried on, his voice monotone. “Have you tried contacting your bank?”
“I just called them,” I rushed out, digging for my phone, my hair falling down around my face as I searched. “I just—I just had it. Give me a sec. The lady said that my money was in there.” I yanked the phone out and tried to flip it right side up, but it slipped. I froze, watching it crash to the tan carpeted floor with a soft thud, a drop of cold sweat beading at my temple, sliding down slowly. My chest began to heave, panic settling in. “I havethe money. I made sure I had the money, Mr. Tactine. Please,” I begged, tears stinging my eyes.
If I didn’t have the money, I would be kicked out of my classes.
It was too late to apply for any sort of scholarship, and I couldn’t take out any student loans. Not with my debt history. It had been out of the question from the very beginning.
I doubled over and snatched my phone up, opening my banking app all while he stared at me. Deep down, I couldn’t blame him for not reacting. After years of being stuck behind this desk, he was most likely numb to the action of crushing peoples’ dreams. It wasn’t his fault, but right now, I couldn’t see that. Right now, he was the only thing standing between me and my degree. My thumbs flew over the screen as I logged in and turned the phone around for him to see the truth.
I had the money.
It was all right here.
The university had charged me in the past; therefore, this shouldn’t have been flagged.
“There’s the money,” I rasped, running a hand through my hair and holding my breath.
I had the money.
I had the money.
I had the mon—
He cleared his throat, shifting uncomfortably in his seat. “Ms. Bennett, perhaps it would be best to get you in contact with some organizations that can help.”
I jerked back, my outstretched arm bending slightly as my shoulders deflated. “Excuse me?”
Mr. Tactine raised his hand, gesturing to my screen, and I flipped it around. My eyes widened and a sound that I’d never heard before slipped between my lips, bouncing off the cream-colored walls. “What?” I whispered, choking on a horror-filledsob as I slapped my hand over my mouth. Time passed, and I didn’t move my eyes from the screen, the numbers before me burning into my retinas as old fears knocked on the door.
Checking Balance: -800.26
Savings Balance: 0.00
“Where—where is my money?” I asked, slowly lifting my eyes to my adviser.
His eyes were no longer dull, but alert. “I’m going to call my boss in here and the three of us can sit down together to discuss your options.”
I could barely hear him as I fell back into the seat, clutching my phone to my chest as I brought my knees together. There was a killer whale paperweight on the corner of his desk, its back arched, fin pointing to the heavens. It looked like it was having the time of its life. “Someone stole my money, Mr. Tactine,” I murmured, studying the paperweight.
“Yes, we need to figure this out. I…”
He kept talking, but I couldn’t hear a word.
Because I was drowning again, lost in a sea I never wanted to explore. Dark water filled my lungs, burning me from the inside as my hands reached for something to grab on to, but it was too late.
I was already lost to the past.