My Knight in Shining Armor

By Jessica Williams

            My knight in shining armor was never the same. He morphed to fit into my lifestyle. When I changed so did he.

            When I was young, maybe five, I dreamed of a knight in real armor riding on a white stallion coming in to slay the dragon and save me from the evil wizard. I'd sit for hours dreaming up my own little fairy tale, where I was the damsel in distress.

            Then I entered my preteen years, probably ten, and my knight in shining armor took a dramatic change. He stopped wearing armor, and started wearing a leather jacket and jeans. He didn't ride a stallion but drove a Mustang Convertible. He was the coolest guy around, one of those guys the entire female population sees him, and starts planning their wedding with him. And he would've been mine.

            Next was the period of my life I wish I could've skipped entirely. It wasn't very bright. I entered high school where I learned that life wasn't easy, and people weren't always nice. And the nice sheltered environment I grew up in, didn't exist in the real world. I fell into a depression, so deep and dark I thought nothing would bring me out. Suicide even crossed my mind once, but I was too afraid to go through with it. My knight once again underwent a major change. He still wore that leather jacket, but it was covered with chains and his jeans were ripped. He didn't drive that Mustang, but he walked everywhere. He was a dropout, got in fights, carried his switchblade everywhere, and he wasn't respectful to women. I no longer wanted to fall in love with my knight in shining armor; I never wanted to see him.

            College came along next, and that's when I met my best friend and current roommate, Courtney. She helped me to see the lighter side of life. Slowly, day-by-day, inch-by-inch, she pulled me out of the hole I had dug myself into. I can never repay her for the amazing things she did for me, and I love her like a sister. My knight morphed but I'm not sure what he changed into. I didn't give much of my time to guys in my college years. I was more focused on my work. I think it helped me get over my teenage years.

            And now, here I am, a young woman fresh out of nursing school, sitting in my favorite coffee shop looking for job offers in the classifieds of the Topeka Capital-Journal. I smiled as the owner of this shop brought me my cup of hot chocolate. "Hey Sandy. Anything new?" I asked as I took a sip of hot cocoa.

            She smiled at me affectionately; I had come to think of this woman as my mother, as mine had died while giving birth to my little brother. "I heard from some earlier customers, they looked to be doctors, that there was an opening for two nurses at St. Francis Health Center, maybe an opportunity for you and Courtney," her turquoise eyes twinkled as she told me this. When my face broke into a giant grin, Sandy giggled. "Why don't you go over there now, I'll get your hot chocolate," she shook her head when I reached for my purse. "On the house. Now get going, wouldn't want someone else to get those positions."

            "Thanks Sandy!" I gave the older woman a hug, before racing out the door to get to my old beat up car. It wasn't much but it was all I could afford, and it was my baby. I hurriedly put my auburn hair up in a bun, trying to look acceptable, before driving off towards St. Francis Health Center and hopefully my new job.

*~~*

             I opened the door to the apartment Courtney and I shared, almost giddy with the news. I saw Courtney's boyfriend, Michael, in our living room. He's always there, so I didn't mind. When I opened my mouth to ask where Courtney was, he had already answered. "Kitchen."

            "Thanks," I told him before darting into the kitchen to find Courtney making two peanut butter and banana sandwiches.

            "I thought you'd be home soon." Courtney licked the excess peanut butter off her fingers and handed me a sandwich. Courtney had a sixth sense about these things. She could sense where I was, when I was going to get home, and what mood I would be in. it was how she first found out about my depression.

            "Thanks," I said, after I took a bite. "I have some news, you're going to love!" Courtney's eyes widened, urging me on. "Well when I was at Sandy's coffee shop she told me that there were two job openings down at St. Francis Health Center." Courtney's face lighted up with a grin, but I cut her off before she could say anything. "That's not the end. So, I went over there to get us job applications and the manager asked to see me. Naturally I went to see me and he started asking me questions about your and my qualifications. I answered everything truthfully and then," I paused giving Courtney some suspense, while I took another bite and swallowed slowly. When Courtney looked as if she was going to strangle me, I continued. "He said that we didn't need to fill out the applications, all you needed to do was come down and get interviewed! Then we've landed ourselves awesome jobs!"

            Courtney squealed with delight and ran around the table to hug me. Suddenly she stopped and looked right at me. "Ally, do you know what this means?"

            "What?"

            "You have to help me pick out a great outfit!" I nodded my head excitedly before we both ran off to her room.

*~~*