“Some work?” Dr Fleming raised an eyebrow. “Audrey has been my primary research partner for the past two years. Her contribution to our traumatic brain injury study was instrumental to its success.”
My parents exchanged a glance I couldn’t quite interpret.
“How nice,” my mother said vaguely. “Jessica has also been very involved in Neurosurgical research. In fact, Dr Woo was just saying how impressed she is with Jessica’s application to her program.”
I felt a flush of anger rising in my cheeks. Jessica hadn’t done Neurosurgical research. Her Focus was neuropsychiatry, an entirely different field. My parents were blatantly misrepresenting her experience, potentially at the expense of my own opportunities.
Dr Fleming’s expression remained pleasant, but I could see a Steely glint in her eyes. “Is that so? How fascinating. I was under the impression that Jessica’s Focus was on psychiatric applications rather than surgical interventions.”
An awkward silence fell over our small group. My trap of Hope was closing around me. This announcement was going to make things worse, not better.