Imaginative Future 3

Chapter 1

Four years. Four years since the taxi's taillights vanished down the rain-slicked street, taking Valerie and Jane with them. A hollow silence echoed in the office, a silence that wasn't just the absence of their voices, but the absence of their *presence*. The air hung thick with unspoken grief, a weight that settled on our shoulders like a physical burden. We were left, a motley crew suddenly adrift, staring at the daunting task ahead.

> The reality hit hard. Laptops, servers, the endless stream of invoices – each item a stark reminder of our precarious position. We were renting, barely scraping by, the threat of eviction a constant, gnawing worry. The hum of the air conditioner seemed to mock our anxieties, a relentless drone against the backdrop of our dwindling resources.

> But time, as it always does, marched on. Now, four years later, the view from my office window stretched across ten stories of gleaming glass and steel. The "Imaginative Future" agency, once a fledgling dream, had transformed into a powerhouse. Twenty employees, each a vital cog in our intricate machine, manned different sectors, a symphony of focused activity. We weren't just taking on client cases anymore. We were partners with the government, a vital lifeline in the social services sector, from financial aid to childcare. Our building, a beacon of hope, housed lawyers, counselors, and support staff, all working in unison.

Life, for a brief, blissful moment, seemed to have found its rhythm. The chaos we fought so hard against had receded, replaced by a sense of order, a quiet satisfaction. Then, the prime minister's voice, cold and sharp, cut through the fabricated peace. The intercom crackled, and the world, once again, teetered on the edge of the unknown.