Sneak peek?
Micah's Point Of View
"What time is it?"
Karl and I both laughed. "It's time for you to be fucked," I say.
Her eyes widen and she looks at the two of us. I'm not sure if she's scared or if she's just unsure. I know we're going to have t...
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Huddled in the sanctuary of the bathroom, I leaned against the cool marble wall, my heart pounding in my chest. “How could I be so careless?” I chastised myself silently. The opulence of the room did little to comfort me; the ornate fixtures and the soft hum of the ventilation system seemed to mock my distress.
I closed my eyes, taking deep, measured breaths, trying to quell the rising panic. “Think, Amara, think,” I urged myself. “You need a plan.” The minutes ticked by, each one amplifying my sense of dread. I couldn’t hide here forever.
Step one: Apologize. I knew I had to face Karl and Micah with sincerity. “I’m sorry for the distraction,” I rehearsed under my breath. “It won’t happen again.”
Step two: Offer a solution. I could propose staying late to make up for the lost time. “I can extend my hours today, ensure all tasks are completed,” I planned, hoping the offer would demonstrate my commitment.
Step three: Show initiative. Maybe if I presented a new idea or a way to improve efficiency, they’d see my potential. “I’ve been thinking about a new filing system,” I pondered, the beginnings of an idea forming.
After a few more minutes, there was a knock at the door jolting me from my frantic thoughts. “Amara, enough hiding. Come out now,” Karl’s voice commanded, a note of impatience threading through the words.
My heart skipped a beat, and I pressed my hand to my mouth, stifling the nervous giggle that threatened to escape. “I’m not hiding,” I called out, my voice wobbling despite my efforts. “I’m… taking a poop.” The moment the words left my lips, I wanted to disappear. Why did I say that?
There was a pause, and then a dual sigh of exasperation from Karl and Micah. I could almost see their matching expressions of frustration, and I cringed, feeling my cheeks flush with heat.
“Amara, we don’t have time for this,” Micah added, his tone sharp.
I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. “Just… just a minute,” I managed to say, though I doubted they were convinced.
I heard their footsteps fading away from the door, and I knew I had to act quickly. This was it, my moment to either sink into the mire of my own making or to pull myself out of it.
I lingered in front of the mirror, my reflection a stark reminder of the mess I'd made. Biting my lip, I fought back the urge to cry. "Get it together, Amara," I whispered to myself. My fingers combed through my hair, trying to bring some order to the disarray.
A heavy sigh escaped me, filled with all the frustration and self-reproach I felt. Today was supposed to be a new beginning, impressing my bosses to be able to still take my exams and classes and not a series of blunders. I straightened my clothes, smoothing out the creases with trembling hands.
