As I walked into the classroom, I had no idea of what I was getting myself into, or just how much my life would be changed forever. I would soon find out though, VERY soon.

I had decided to go back to school shortly after Les had died because I felt the need to occupy my mind and fill the vast, empty space where my husband had been. I had gotten married early in life and left music school after only 3 semesters, so I felt at that point I owed it to myself to finish my double degrees in music production and engineering/education major, with a performance minor. Because of the extent of work I had ahead of me, and the complexity of the double majors, I was required to talk English Literature as an elective class, starting with first semester level. So here I was, feeling old and haggard among a virtual SEA of young people whose faces greeted me with a combination of shock, pity, and just plain DISLIKE.

It's not that I'm very old, you see. I'm only 31, but the events of the previous year had been very apparent on my face, and I'm sure that it showed to all of those carefree "spreading-their-wings-for-the-first-time" students who were to be my classmates for the next 2 semesters. I found my way to the only available seat in the class, which just so happened to be in the FRONT and sat down.

"Class" said professor Walworth, "I'd like you to say hello to the , um, newest addition to our group, Ms. Jenna Munroe. Ms. Munroe, would you please stand up?" I stood up, and as I did, I quickly scanned he entire class, said, "I'm glad to be here", and quickly sat down. I could hear whispers coming from the row behind me saying "Where's the cane, old lady?" and other assorted elderly jokes coming from all around the room. As I turned around to see where the "cane" comment came from, I noticed out of the corner of my eye, a solitary young man sitting in the far right corner of the room. He was tall and lanky as evidenced by his longer than long legs, with dark blonde hair pulled back into a ponytail, and a chiseled face with surprisingly soft, delicate features and very full red lips. He was sitting next to a burly older man with curly brown hair who looked even more out of place than I did, and as I glanced over at the young man in the corner, he gave me the SADDEST look, as if to say " I understand", then dropped his gaze down at his books. Suddenly I didn't feel so out of place anymore and I slowly turned around as the professor started his lecture.