ᴍʏ ᴋɪɴᴅ ᴏꜰ ᴘᴇʀꜰᴇᴄᴛ ✩ ᴛᴢ11

THIRTY FOUR

penelope

trevor and i are walking through target on a tuesday morning. there virtually no one in the store except for us, a few trophy wives, older couples, and the occasional college student buying a case of alcohol. he's pushing the cart as i waddle beside him, i'm not even listening to what he's saying as he mindlessly rambles.

the day from last week continues playing in my head. the day someone who i considered a friend deeply betrayed me. though, he wouldn't look at it as betrayal. he would say it was him looking out for me. wrong. it was betrayal.

"we're terminating your job." peter says as i sit across from him. he looks so much more intimidating sitting behind his large oak desk.

i start laughing out loud. "i know i told you once that you weren't funny, but you're really not funny now."

his expression remains the same. the straight face with soft eyes. i sit up in my chair when i realize what's happening.

"no." i state. his face contorts to a confused one.

"no?"

"no." i spit. "you're not firing me."

"i'm not firing you, penelope. you're pregnant, you're dealing with a lot of emotional stress, you need time to plan-"

"that's such bullshit peter and you know it!" i shout.

he breathes harshly when i interrupt him. "i'm talking!"

i jump when he slams his hand down on his desk. it's not too aggressive but it's enough to make me pissed off and catch me off guard.

"you're pregnant. your anxiety is debilitating you everyday. you're tired all the time, you need rest. pregnancy is stressful as it is, you don't need this job stressing you out even more. this will give you time to figure things out. you're not getting fired penelope. after the baby is born, we would love to invite you back, but until then your job is terminated."

i let out an ugly scoff. "invite me back? i own a third of this practice! who's going to do my job while i'm gone? sure my anxiety is high, but i manage. i know you think you're doing me a favor peter but you're not. you're making this worse-"

"slow down."

"don't tell me do anything!" i scream, getting up and pointing my finger in his face. i'm so mad right now. my self confidence has never been extremely high, but when it comes to my job, it is. i am the best advocate for patients in this clinic, i build amazing rapport with families, and not to mention, own part of the fucking place.

"this is a trauma response for you," i spit. "you're taking this out on me because courtney wouldn't let you. you couldn't protect her from declining so you think by firing-or terminating as you would say-which is complete bullshit, you can save me, but guess what peter? i'm not dying from stage three brain cancer!"

when i realize what i've just said my hand clamps over my mouth. his face is red and he looks pissed.

"get out." he says lowly.

"i'm sorry." i breath.

he nods. "you're correct, but i don't want to say something i'll regret, so leave, penelope."

i'm angry. i'm sad. i feel like i've just been stabbed in the back. fuck this place. i slam the door to peter's office as i walk out. my mind forgetting that i've just hurt him too. the loud rattling causes dr. hubbard to run out of his office to watch me stomp or attempt to stomp down the hallway.