It started out with a kiss

Chapter 21 - Shiobhan's last day

-- 18TH OF DECEMBER--

MARJORIE

" It's so festive in the office"

I was just talking to myself and dancing along to my Christmas music, you know, having a good time, when someone rudely decided to interrupt me, the phone was ringing. I answered,

" Hello"

" Marjorie" I knew that voice anywhere and suddenly I wasn't in the mood for my music anymore, so I paused it to hear what this one had to say.

" Spoke too soon, yes Siobhan, to what do i owe this displeasure? " Honestly can't be bothered for her.

" I heard that you have a Christmas single out."

" That's right."

She continued, " and apparently you're trying to get to Christmas number 1"

Someone is being a bit nosey today, but actually when is she ever not being nosey, always trying to get involved in my business, and what for, " yes and what's it to you?"

" I was just curious about how you would get to a Christmas number 1 exactly"

See what I mean always trying to get up in stuff, " You download it from Amazon or iTunes an any money raised from it is going to the Trussell Trust, not that you care about charity."

" You're right, but I am willing to give you an early Christmas present"

I'm curious now, " You're gonna buy the song?"

" hmm no , I overheard your solos on a colleague's phone, I don't need that kind of energy in my life however, I will do you one better"

Not gonna lie I should have known, and also I feel like better means better for her and actually worse for me but we'll see, " Oh yeah, what's that?"

" If you reach Christmas number 1, I will quit"

" You what?"

" If you hit Christmas number 1, I will give you what you've always wanted, I will leave the company for good"

If this woman is being for real I am actually going to freak, she has been a pain in my ass for years now, I really don't think anything has made me happier,

LIKE EVER IN MY LIFE BEFORE. Honestly this news is making me want to scream and cry and throw up, but I can't, I'll save that for later when I get home.

" You're on" As i said it i have to admit i did slightly struggle to contain my excitement but that's fine, nobody would be able to if they were in my situation.

" But one more thing"

" Yeah, what's that" There's always got to be a downside hasn't there, the world just can't let me be happy about something actually good.

She continued, " If you don't reach Christmas number 1, I get to pick one of your staff members to let go."

I knew it i just knew it there has always a good and a bad in every situation, it honestly can't ever just be good can it.

" aye "

" Well it's a bet isn't it, there has to be stakes on both sides, plus you seem pretty confident that you'll reach number 1 so it shouldn't be an issue, should it?"

This woman gets on my last nerve, " and exactly what staff member did you have in mind?"

" hmm, I must admit Carly's squeaky voice really grates on me"

This bitch, she just has to pick on the child doesn't she, " She's only 17"

" Then again, that self righteous Charlotte really rubs me up the wrong way?"

Now Charlotte, " She's my longest standing staff member , you can't do that"

" Although wouldn't it be hilarious to get rid of Autumn right as she's at the peak of her redemption arc"

Autumn had come back in at this point and I know she could hear Siobhan on the phone because occasionally her body language would shift ever so slightly, like to the point where if you weren't looking close enough you wouldn't have been able to notice, but she was just sat there getting back on with her work, staying calm, as always.

Siobhan's voice came back out of the phone, " so what's it to be Marjorie, still think you have what it takes to reach number 1"

This phone call has already lasted too long and i wanted to prove Siobhan wrong, and i also wanted to get rid of her obviously, " Do you know what I think if the incentive is to get rid of you people are going to buy this in droves, OKAY, so enjoy your last few days, they're numbered" I said that last bit strongly down the phone before hanging it up. That's when Autumn decided to get a word in,

" What was all that about?" She questioned in her whisper like tone.

" I might be out of a job in a week" Now that I've said it out loud i am shitting myself slightly, I love this job and honestly if i lose it i don't know what I'm going to do.

--25TH OF DECEMBER--

SIOBHAN

I hate Christmas, it's probably one of the worst days of the year, because certain people get too drunk and do some things that quite frankly they don't regret, but that one of us pays the price for, if you know what I mean.

I had just got off the phone to Marjorie though and it now seems like I'm not going to be manager anymore, part of me knew it was going to happen but also I was wishing that it wouldn't, me being manager was the only things like gave me power, gave me that little bit of control I had left, now that I'm not it's like it's all been ripped away from me. I shouldn't complain though because I really didn't enjoy anything else about working at the nursery, it wasn't fun, more just something I did to fill my time, and obviously to get away from home, I did it because it was an escape.

Roger and I spent some good time looking for someone to replace me, I had informed him of mine and Marjorie's little deal and I think he even knew it was going to happen but he had no belief in me anyway so obviously he wanted to start looking for replacements straight away. There were lots of people he had in mind, he wouldn't have actually interviewed anyone, probably just hired them, no safety checks or anything, the way he carried out these processes did concern me but I couldn't get a word in or I'd be in trouble.
In the end we settled on two people, both very similar, didn't seem to have a bit of training but it is what it is.
That was until Roger got a call, I didn't know what it was about, or who it was but it seemed important because Roger was screaming down the phone which he normally does anyway but that's beside the point because this was different, he had some real deep hatred towards whoever called him if only I knew who they were.

———TIME SKIP———

After the phone call earlier Roger had disappeared for a while, I don't know where to but I had an idea, and if I was correct then it was only a matter of time before he'd take his anger out on me.
I don't know how much longer I can last like this, getting his anger taken out on me.
He's been gone for an hour and every second is making me even more scared and even when he's not here I find myself treading lightly around the house just in case, I don't know why because I know he's not here but the trauma in me can't help it.
I can't imagine how much worse this is all going to get now that I'm at home all day.

I just can't help but imagine.

Rhythm,
Scars heal first on the outside,
The depth of the wound unknown,
Together on the outside,
Nobody knows what lies underneath,
Pain can't just go away quickly,
It resonates,
Waves come and go,
Rhythms of pain,
And with every change,
Comes good and bad,
Just allow your mind to lead you,
To bring you to rhythms of hope.