Chapter 41: Yaron

I left my parents’ home and moved in with Daniel. We had spent many nights at his place while growing up, so it felt natural. His mother, who was also Jewish, wasn’t happy about my decision, but she kept it to herself.

Daniel had finished his studies in the M.I.T. and returned to Seattle. He and I were inseparable again. Having a friend like him was a blessing. He was my sounding board, the one I could always lean on, and who would always have my back.

Sharing a room with my best friend was exactly what I needed. No drama. No complications. No arguments. We played games on the computer, binge-watched TV shows, and talked endlessly about everything and nothing at all. On sunny weekends, we’d go camping, setting up tents under the stars and forgetting the stress of our daily lives.

My first job was at a well-known health clinic. Having a Harvard degree opened many doors for me, but the reality of working there wasn’t what I had hoped for. The clinic operated like clockwork—appointments were scheduled back-to-back, with only limited time to actually connect with patients. Every patient felt like a number, and the time constraints weighed on me. But it was a solid start. I gained invaluable real-life lessons about what to do and, just as importantly, what not to do.