Azariah - God Has Helped

Chapter 19

Kiara sank deeper into the bed, her mind buzzing as she tried to imagine a way out of the suffocating mess her life had become. Jobless, frustrated, and caught between her responsibility to her son and her own dreams, she felt the weight of every failed attempt pressing down on her.

It was late July, and college was set to resume in just a month. She hadn't decided whether she'd go back. Davar had been throwing subtle, and sometimes not-so-subtle, jabs about her priorities, insisting she couldn't manage finishing her bachelor's while taking care of their son.

Pshhhhh! She spat the thought angrily inside her head. This is my education, my future, she reminded herself.

Scrolling absentmindedly through Instagram, a glimmer of hope caught her eye. A BPO company called IBEX had posted a recruitment ad. She didn't know much about the sector, but desperation made her willing to try anything. All she wanted was a way to earn her own money, contribute equally to their son's life, and regain some control over her future.

She remembered her previous attempt at Sutherland Global weeks ago. That interview had ended in tears, humiliation, and the sting of Davar's jeering. All of his friends had gotten in, while she had walked away empty-handed. Her vulnerability had been met with mockery, and it cut deeper than the rejection itself.

It's just one stupid interview, she reminded herself, brushing away the lingering resentment. Determined, she clicked on the IBEX link, nervously filling out all the required fields. Each keystroke felt like a small victory.

When the submission confirmation appeared, a spark of hope lit within her chest. She whispered a prayer, Please let this one work. Let me stand on my own two feet.

Later that night, as she stretched across the bed, exhaustion and relief wrapped her in a quiet embrace. Darkness would soon creep back in with Davar's return, but for now, she allowed herself this small comfort. Sleep claimed her, gentle and forgiving.

The next morning, she was jolted awake by the sound of her phone ringing. She fumbled to answer, still half-dreaming.

"Hello?" she croaked.

It was the IBEX recruiter. The voice on the other end sounded professional, steady—and it carried the confirmation she had been praying for. They were considering her for the position. Kiara's chest tightened with excitement and disbelief.

"Yes, good afternoon, this is Kiara speaking," she said, her voice trembling but filled with joy.

Tears began to flow as she listened to the instructions, stinging eyes unable to hold back the emotions she had bottled for months. Tears of relief, tears of hope, tears of victory.

When the call ended, she could only scream into the quiet room, letting the weight of months of struggle and fear fall away.

Could this really be happening? Could I really stand on my own two feet?

She wiped her tears and immediately began searching for a place to rent. The recruiter had advised her to secure a secondary address, since her current home was too far from the office.

Her mind whirled with questions. Where will I live? How will I afford it? How can I keep my son safe?

But amid the chaos of uncertainty, a small, stubborn flame of faith refused to die. She knew God would provide. Even if she didn't have a cent in her pocket, even if the path ahead was uncertain, she would find a way. She would fight for herself, for her son, and for the life she deserved.

This time, she vowed, she would not wait for someone else to make her happy. She would take it, piece by piece, no matter how hard it got.

Her journey was far from over, but for the first time in months, Kiara felt a flicker of something she hadn't felt in a long while: hope.