Page 41 of Broken Dream

“As soon as we find a suitable graft, we’ll schedule the surgery,” Gita says. “We have a top team researching and searching. It could take a couple of weeks…or it might be tomorrow. We just can’t predict it.”

“Until then,” Belmont adds, “we’ll devise a comprehensive physiotherapy plan that you’ll begin immediately after surgery. The sooner we stimulate nerve regrowth, the better.”

I nod. The waiting game begins again, but this time it’s different.

This time I have cautious optimism.

And this time…

I won’t let my own mind defeat me.

Chapter Thirteen

Angie

After coffee with Tabitha and Eli, I decline their invitation to lunch and head back to my place to make a quick sandwich and let Tillie out. Then I return to campus for my afternoon classes.

My last class of the day is Introduction to Psychiatry. It’s a required course, but I’ve heard that most students save it for their third or fourth year. I’m excited to begin. Today is the first day of the class.

The professor is an older man, Dr. Carlos Engel, and when I see him, I’m disappointed. I fear he’ll be some dud who simply drones on and on in a monotonous voice.

But I’m delightfully wrong.

“Good afternoon,” Dr. Engel says.

His voice is deep and resonant. It reminds me of the sound of the cello at Dave and Maddie’s quadruple wedding last fall. Dr. Engel has an accent that I can’t quite place—his first name is Spanish, and his last name is German; Engel means angel—but it’s smooth and rhythmic.

“Welcome to Introduction to Psychiatry,” he continues, his eyes twinkling behind thick-rimmed glasses. “I promise you that this is not going to be what you were expecting.”

He dives into a lecture about the human psyche. It’s mesmerizing and vastly different from any psychology class I’ve attended before.

“You’re here because you’ve chosen—or at least have been nudged—to explore one of the most fascinating, complex, and deeply human branches of medicine.” He smiles at us. “Psychiatry doesn’t deal in broken bones or malfunctioning organs. It deals in the architecture of the mind, the delicate balance of emotions, and the profound mystery of human behavior.”

He turns to the board and writes the words What makes us human?

He turns back to the class. “A deceptively simple question. What separates us from the rest of the animal kingdom? Is it our biology—our brains, our neurotransmitters, our DNA? Or is it something more abstract—our relationships, our experiences, the stories we tell ourselves? Psychiatry stands at the intersection of these questions, straddling the tangible and the intangible.”

I look around the class. Most of the people were not paying attention at first, but Dr. Engel seems to have all eyes and ears on him now.

“We’ll talk about brain chemistry, yes. You’ll learn about dopamine, serotonin, and the mechanisms behind disorders like depression and schizophrenia. But you’ll also learn to listen—truly listen—to the stories of people in pain. Because psychiatry isn’t just about diagnosing and treating. It’s about understanding. And understanding doesn’t come from a lab test or an MRI. It comes from empathy.”

That’s it. This is why I want to go into this branch of medicine. To do what my aunt has been doing for years. To help people in ways that physical medicine can’t. People who have been through the worst possible things.

Ralph’s opinions be damned. This is just as important as being a surgeon. Maybe even more important.

“As we embark on this journey, you’ll encounter things that might challenge your beliefs and make you uncomfortable. You’ll meet patients whose struggles are hard to comprehend. You’ll study disorders that defy neat categorization. And you’ll realize that psychiatry is not about fixing people—it’s about helping them find balance and hope in their own unique way.”

Dr. Engel picks up a piece of chalk and writes two more words on the board.

Mind and Heart.

He turns back to the class, a faint smile on his face.

“These are your tools. Use them wisely.”

I look around. No one from my anatomy lab is present. It’s a shame. Dr. Engel’s words are inspiring.

“We’ll dive into a more detailed lecture tomorrow,” Dr Engel says. “So I won’t keep you much longer today. But I do want to ask one thing.” He scans the class. “Are any of you planning to focus on psychiatry?”