Chapter 8: The Assessment

'You walked away once, Maureen. Do you really think they'll take back a quitter?' Curtis said outside the interview room.

The staff member held the door open. Rosalind stood beside him, and both heard every word.

I faced Curtis. 'You don't get to tell them what I chose.'

His mouth tightened. He had expected me to keep walking.

His words hurt because he called me a quitter, and my fingers trembled against the door's edge.

I stopped and took a full breath before stepping inside.

Curtis moved toward the opening.

The staff member kept one hand on the door and blocked his way.

'You agreed to wait outside, Dr. Ainsley.'

'I only want to clarify what she means.'

'You can clarify nothing in there. The interview is for Maureen.'

Rosalind lowered her eyes to the floor.

Curtis looked at the staff member, then at me. He stayed in the hall.

The staff member shut the door between us.

Inside, two interviewers sat across from me at a table. A glass of water waited beside a blank form.

I sat down and set my purse beside the chair.

One interviewer opened my school record.

'What would you like us to judge today, beyond the old offer and the answer Curtis gave for you?'

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