The Professor's Doubts
The Test
Wendy Wilks bounced excitedly on her heels as she entered the anatomy lab, clutching her test papers tightly. She'd spent countless hours studying for this exam, poring over diagrams and dissections in her textbooks. Now, it was finally time to prove herself.
With shaky hands, Wendy handed over the paperwork to her professor, Christine La Duke. A look of concern crossed her face as she quickly scanned the pages, her eyes widening in disbelief.
The Mistake
"Ten out of ten are wrong?" she whispered, almost incredulous. Wendy's heart sank as reality dawned on her. She'd left class earlier that day feeling confident; now it seemed she'd failed miserably. Her professor's gaze was stern, unyielding, and Wendy felt herself shrinking under it.
"I... I don't understand," she stuttered. "I thought I did well."
The Reckoning
Christine La Duke sighed, shaking her head gently. "I had my doubts, Wendy," she said, her tone even. "And it seems they were well-founded." She leaned in closer, her towering presence casting Wendy in her shadow. "Do you really want to learn?" she asked softly.
Wendy swallowed hard, nodding slowly. "Yes, ma'am. I do."
The Punishment
"Good," Christine said, straightening up to her full height. "Because failure isn't an option. And since you obviously need a bit more... motivation, I think I know just the thing." She motioned for Wendy to follow her, leading her to a small, dimly lit corner of the lab.
As Wendy's eyes adjusted to the light, she realized she was looking at a tall, imposing medical examination table. A chill ran down her spine as she realized where this was heading. "Please, no," she whimpered, taking a step back. "I'll do better. I promise."
Lesson Learned
Christine La Duke fixed her with a steely gaze. "I hope you mean that, Wendy," she said, her voice cold. "Because if you don't, you'll be back here, again and again. And each time, the consequences will be worse."
Shivering, Wendy nodded meekly. "I understand, ma'am." She closed her eyes, steeling herself for what was to come. As she felt the cool touch of the examination gloves against her skin, she knew that this was just the beginning. But deep down, she also knew that she'd learned her lesson: never underestimate the Professor again.
