From Sneers to Cheers: Anthea’s Ascent

What a shame.

It wasn't a message from Anthea.

It was from my older sister, Yuna Christensen.

"Hey Sherman, when are you, grandma, and mom planning to head back to Capital City?"

I was just about to reply when, out of the blue, I got a text from Anthea, "Been to the hospital yet?"

I shot back a message to Anthea right away, "Yeah, went to the hospital, doc says it's all clear."

All clear?

Anthea paused at her end of the screen.

Looks like her medical skills hadn't missed the mark.

But if Sherman was okay, what was with the rapid breathing and the heartbeat racing through the roof?

"Snap a picture of the CT scan report and send it over."

Without a second thought, I pulled out the CT report, laid it on the table, and sent her a photo.

Anthea opened the photo.

The CT report was all clear, alright.

Her eyes caught the ashtray at the corner of the report, her eyebrows quirked in amusement.

Sherman smokes?

And apparently, it's not just a once-in-a-blue-moon thing.

"Glad you're okay. BTW, smoking's a lung buster, you know. No issues now, but keep at it and you'll tar up those lungs for sure!" Me, quit smoking?

A smirk played at the corners of my lips.

Was Anthea showing concern for me?

"Alright, quitting it is."

go, mom's calling me

"Okay."

after, Anthea sent over a picture of her

A full-on feast.

was quite

my assistant, "Bring my

Lunch delivery?

skipping lunch

off-guard but managed to deliver

I also snapped a photo to send

I sent, her eyebrows

Typical vegetarian fare.

from the tofu, it was all

really into greens

Greens?

smile, warmth

are tasty,

message, Anthea's eyebrows quirked

anyone else, she'd

But this was Sherman.

And who's Sherman?

guy's practically a

know what

"Monks' world, huh. "

monk. Just because I'm off meat now, doesn't mean

"So, 'Through

heart sits Buddha divine'?".

gut

as I was about

call

It was Yuna.

reminded me, I'd forgotten to reply

I didn't pick up. Instead, I kept on texting

emoji rolling its