Anna's Decision

PTE

rted drinking and suffered anxiety attacks. I thought the office would be more understanding, but

told me that he'd found a new position and I shouldn't worry, but that didn't solve anything. I couldn't see myself getting ahead, I had

ld ask. Now I was no longer bothered by her te

walk around tow

y myself and drown my sorrows in alcohol. I used to write short poems, stories and reviews that appeared in the university magazine under the pseudonym Steven Gawai

When the grades came out, I saw on the board that I had failed. With that balance I could not validate my studies in L

ange my mind?' he sa

Steven

kidding?'

by email, and here's the proof,' I

nt for a while b

very good, but what you answer

h a bad time and un

going around? There's talk about your sexual preferences, th

that imp

s fr

or fail you, but if I may give you some advice, don't give

s spreading these

g, Anna, and it sadd

ought. But I n

ered me a job in the creative writing

' I said, 'I had fail

ccount your backgr

my parents' permission, which I kept asking for even though I was twenty, I decided to t

ngs continued like this, I wasn't going to make it safely to the end of September to start the project. I often came home in the wee hours of the morning, staggering, and Mr. Radcliffe's complaints were not

ou for not doing your job in my sister-in-law's offic

t for an old man with a beard who had also been kicked out of his house and with whom I sometimes shared leftover food and bottles. I moved from Grafton Street, which seemed too central, to a more secluded and green area. I was ashamed

ember, I wasn't ready to start teaching, so I didn't show up. My cell phone bro

oing, sweetheart?'

working and studying, so

n't need the money any m

ve it', I told Rachel one night we we

u're strong and will ge