SpellBound

1.

     Leena was late again. She did not care a bit. She still took her time getting ready. Doing her makeup, doing her hair, and finding the perfect outfit. Her outfit today consisted of a black turtleneck, a gray shirt, black tights, and black heeled boots. She knew her coworkers thought she was a freak. She didn't care. She walked out of her house, got in her car, and drove to work in silence.

     When she arrived, she of course caught the stares of what she referred to as "The Ancients." These people were, of course, older. They didn't understand Leena–what she wore, how she talked, and some of them did not even think a woman was competent to be doing the simple job she had. She had wanted to be a creative. Yet, every morning she went to her dull cubicle to try to help more of "The Ancient," who didn't work with her do things like open an Excel Spreadsheet or turn their computer off and back on. Answering calls from unappreciative customers, as well as being told to do things like fetch black coffee or go pick up lunch for the others had put her at her wit's end. Every day, she thought she might finally snap. Today was that day.

     The worst of The Ancients, Leena's boss, walked by, snapping at Leena to go fetch him some lunch.

     "Put some pep in your step!" he barked. Rolling her eyes, Leena messily shoved everything in her bag that she needed to walk over to the market. On her way out, the only other young person there, Adam, bumped into her. She stumbled backward, and all her belongings came toppling out of her purse as she hit the ground.

     "I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry," he stammered, but it was too late.

     "Is it that hard to watch where you're going? Can no one else around here do anything?" Leena shouted, completely losing control of her emotions. All the attention was on them. After messily scooping most of her belongings into her purse, Leena rushed out of the office in embarrassment, staring straight at the ground as tears welled up in her eyes.