JUST A LITTLE COMFORT

C H A P T E R O N E

"PLEASE! I Will do anything! I need this job. I need the money! I worked here for years!

This is all just a misunderstanding." I pleaded.

" I know you've been loyal but it's your word against his and I really don't want to lose someone in a senior position over a filing clerk." My boss said bluntly.

That was it. Was this all I was reduced to? I was so angry. I held back my tears, grabbed my bag and walked out, feeling defeated. Leo, the man who got me fired, was leaning against one of the office doors that I needed to walk past to exit the building. His demeanor was far from villainous. Honey dripped out of his mouth when he spoke. He was so manipulative, that everyone I had worked with for years already believed him over me. It could also be due to the fact that I was reserved, and he was outspoken or that he was in a senior position, and I was basically a NOBODY. He smirked at me. I looked down and walked past him. I was trying to stay strong, but I was shaking. I wanted to break down, but I didn't want to give him the satisfaction of knowing that he broke me, so I left as fast as I could. I was glad he didn't say anything to me.

I couldn't process the thoughts going through my head. I was starting to feel light-headed. I just needed to get to the apartment. I needed to feel safe. I walked fast and hopped onto the bus. I kept telling myself to keep it together. Break down in the comfort of your room. You're almost there. The bus stopped. I hopped off. I crossed the street to the apartment building. I know I should have used the pedestrian crossing, but I just wanted to get to my building. I didn't want to walk all the way up the street and back down, so I just crossed from where the bus stopped. A car was in the middle of parallel parking in the gap I was trying to walk through, so I waited impatiently for them to just park so I could get off the road. When the car finally stopped, I walked in front of it. The driver took the clutch out before switching off the car. The car jerked forward and since I was so close to the front of it, it knocked me. I lost my balance and fell a little comically to the ground.

"OH EM GEE!" I heard someone scream. I put my hand on the bonnet of the car to help myself up. 

"ARE YOU ALRIGHT!" She yelled.

"yeah... yes... I'm fine." I said, reassuring her that I was okay so she could stop yelling since it was attracting a lot of attention, and it was making me nervous.

"ARE YOU SURE? Do you need a doctor? My brother is studying medicine. Or I can take you to a hospital!" She said, trying to be helpful but she seemed to be adding more stress to the situation.

"I'm fine. Seriously, I am okay. The last thing I need is a medical bill!!" I said abruptly. I've never spoken that way before. I just snapped. 

"Okay. That might be the shock talking. If you need help later. Here's my number. Call me. PLEASE!" She said, backing off abit once she heard my tone. I snatched the card out of her hand since she was extending her arm right in my face.

"Thanks." I said, giving a huge sigh of relief once she turned to leave.

"TASHA! Why did you ask me to park your car?! I nearly killed someone!" I heard her say over the phone, trailing off as she got further away.

I didn't even get a scratch. I chuckled in my head. That encounter made me forget my ordeal for a minute. I made my way to my building, went up to my floor and shut the door. I just dropped to the floor and sobbed. I let out all the tears and stood up after what felt like forever, but it was only fifteen minutes. I made some tea and just sat on the edge of my bed and sipped it while I stared out of my window and sniffled.

After some time of just watching the people go in and out of the Coffee shop across my building, I saw the girl who 'knocked me' down. I looked at the card that I tossed on my dresser. It read, "JULIA EVANS, INTERIOR DESIGNER AND ASPIRING FASHION DESIGNER... MANIFESTING." with her number.