A Helping Hand

Adam McFadden wasn't a tall man. In fact, he didn't even look like a man. He had a youthful face and a small frame. Although he didn't look his age, he was respected by many. His classes always got filled up and he often received emails from students asking if he could squeeze them in. Adam didn't know why he was so popular; but he guessed it was because his students could relate to him. After all, he was in their shoes not too long ago in his life.

Adam's students stayed after class to talk to him sometimes. He was the kind of professor that cared about his students and wanted them to do well. He was really glad that they liked him, and most did very well in all of his classes.

With all the great and amazing students there was always the few students that didn't seem to care about classwork or doing much of anything. Most professors would ignore those individuals or make their lives worse by calling on them or singling them out; but not Adam. He tried his best to make sure that his students were heading in the right direction.

He couldn't help but notice one particular student; Martin Yost. The teenager wasn't failing the class or anything, but he always seemed so lethargic and careless. His eyes looked tired, he was very skinny and he looked emotionally drained. Adam paid attention to him to see if he could read him without having to ask any questions. Adam was a cognitive psychology major in college, it was in him to try and get inside peoples' minds.

When Adam saw a purple and black bruise on Martin's neck, he felt it was the right time to butt in, just a little bit. It didn't look like Martin was trying to cover up the bruise at all. It was so strange to the professor.

"Martin, could you stay after class for a few minutes? I need someone tall to help me take down a banner in the lobby," he asked in a polite tone.

"Uh, yea sure I guess," the teen answered shortly, staying in his desk until everyone left the class.

Adam smiled and motioned with his hand for Martin to follow him. As they walked to the lobby Adam looked up at the boy.

"I know you must get this a lot, but I need to ask. How tall are you exactly?" He laughed and pointed to the banner that needed to come down.

All Martin had to do was reach up to take the banner down. "Around six foot four."

Adam couldn't help but wonder why Martin seemed to have no emotion towards anything. He didn't even react to the question at all. He was acting pretty abnormal.

Martin crumbled up the banner and threw it in a garbage can.

"Wow that's taller than I thought. Thank you for helping me. But um, I was actually wondering if you could come to my office as well. It's right down the hall. There's something I'd like to discuss with you."

Martin looked at his professor with a confused expression.

"Oh crap. Did I not pass the mid-term?"

As an intelligent man, Adam knew that if he told him the real reason he wanted him to come to his office he'd say no...so he had no choice but to make it seem true.

"Let's just go to my office and talk about it privately. Okay?"

Martin's shoulders sunk, and Adam felt terrible about making him think that he was failing, but he was following him to his office and that was all that mattered to him at the time.

Adam opened his office door and let Martin have a seat. He was surprised when the teen started to explain himself before he even asked him anything.

"I knew I did bad. I studied and everything but...I mean I don't know what happened. I did my best-"

The professor kindly interrupted him. "You didn't bomb the test. You did well. I'm sorry for lying. I just really need to speak with you. I care about each and every one of my students, and I've noticed that something is just not right here. It's not any of my business Martin, but I want to help you. Every week you look so exhausted and run down and you never talk to anyone else or participate in class; you don't even text. I can tell something is bothering you."

Martin's eyes changed from blue to grey. Adam had never seen anything like it. He actually never realized that Martin had blue eyes, probably because he was always looking down or away.

"I don't mean any disrespect but you're right, it is none of your business. I know you want to help...you're a psych professor. I get that. But I'm fine."

Adam bit his lip and nodded his head. He didn't want to push Martin, he just wanted him to know he was there for him.

"I'm sorry Martin. I know you're a bright student and I want you to go far in life. I just think that you need to talk to someone; we all do. If you don't want to talk to me that's okay, but I hope that you do have someone that you can talk to. It might feel good to get some things off your chest."

Martin crossed his arms, which Adam read as a bad sign, but at least he wasn't out of the door yet.

"I don't like to talk about my problems. Because that's just it...they're my problems. Thanks for the outreach but I can cope on my own."

Martin was about to walk out but he glanced to his left and saw a guitar case in the corner of the room, so he stopped for a second.

"You play?" He asked rhetorically. "Me too."

The shorter mans' eyes softened and he smiled. "I've been playing since I was about 8. How about you?"

Martin shrugged, a bit embarrassed. "Only a year. I'm not that good. But it's something I love."

Adam wanted to go into psychologist mode and tell Martin how important it was to have an escape such as music but he held back and just watched his student for a moment.

"I'm sure you're great. Why don't you take it out and play something? I promise I won't judge," he said kindly.

Martin held up his hands. "Oh no I couldn't. I'm bad because I'm teaching myself. I can't afford lessons. I'm sort of broke. My parents won't pay for it, they won't pay for anything. And they're bugging me to get a job I...I don't know why I'm telling you all of this."

Martin was starting to feel vulnerable. But Adam was right, it did feel a little better to say it out loud and just get it out.

"It's okay, Martin. Why don't you have a seat?"

The brunette was hesitant at first, but he was starting to feel like maybe Adam did care and was genuine about wanting to help him. So he took a seat in the comfortable chair and faced his professor. He started to fidget with his hands and tap his foot.

"Professor McFadden, do you ever have days where nothing seems to go right? When you try to do something- anything, and it just doesn't work?"

"Of course." He made sure to be brief and let his student talk.

"My whole life is like that. Nothing ever works for me. I'm grateful for what I have and I'd never take my life for granted. I just feel so lost sometimes. I'm 18 and I don't have a job...and I have absolutely no idea what I want to do with my life, I'm only taking up space here. I have so much going on that my parents don't even know about and I feel like crap lying and hiding all of the time. But I need to. They probably wouldn't care anyway. And my dad really wants me out of the house. He says he'll kick me out if I don't get a job within the next month. It's just another thing to add to my list you know?"

Adam felt so bad for Martin. He was a good kid. He didn't deserve this at all.

Martin saw his teacher's eyes avert to his neck. He sighed before he spoke.

"Before you ask...it's not what you think. My dad wouldn't ever hurt me, neither would my mom."

Adam felt himself blush out of embarrassment. "I didn't think that, honest. It looks like a nasty bruise. I'm sorry for staring."

Martin looked up at the ceiling for a few seconds. "I never would share something like this but I know you're going to think my parents beat me if I don't. My parents didn't do this. My...partner did." He chose his words carefully.

Adam looked into Martin's eyes and offered an empathetic look.

"Martin, you're better than that. You know you are. You should not put up with something like that."

The teen shook his head and his lips curled downward for a moment.

"You don't understand. It isn't that way. It's just rough sex that's all it is," he muttered and began to stand up. "I should go. Thanks for listening to me rant. I'll uh, see you on Friday."

Adam stood up and called out Martin's name, but he was so quick to exit the office. He was rattled with disbelief with what Martin had confessed to him. And he knew then that he was going help his student if it was the last thing he did.