"You've got one you'll want to see."
I didn't believe in fate, but I believed in irony.
And my high school bully was asking for my bank's help. He was requesting $50,000.
But Mark's credit score was wrecked, his cards were maxed out, he had two missed car payments, and he had no collateral worth listing. On paper, it was an easy denial.
Then I saw the purpose of the loan: emergency pediatric cardiac surgery.
I closed the file slowly and called Daniel. I asked him to let Mark in.
He was requesting $50,000.
A soft knock, then the door opened.
For a moment, I almost didn't recognize him when he stepped inside.
The varsity linebacker was gone. In his place stood a thin, exhausted man in a wrinkled suit that didn't quite fit. His shoulders slumped inward, as if life had pressed down hard. Mark didn't recognize me at first.
"Thank you for seeing me," he said, taking a seat.
He didn't recognize me at first.
I leaned back in my chair.
"Sophomore chemistry was a long time ago, wasn't it?" I said calmly.
Mark went pale. His eyes flicked to the nameplate on my desk and then to my face. I saw the hope die in his eyes.
"I… I didn't know." He stood abruptly. "I'm sorry to waste your time. I'll go."
"Sit," I said.
