"Lily!" Her mother called a slight accent pulling through.
"Yes mama?" A seven year old Lily asked.
"Can you help me real quick?"
"Yes."
"Great. Hold this." Her mother quickly handed her a teal shirt.
Her mother then swiftly grab a piece of thread that matched the shirt and hooked it through the eye of a needle.
"Thank you. Now give it here." Lily handed her mother the shirt back and she began to patch up a rip in the collar.
"Mama? What are you doing?"
"My job. I'm a seamstress for the cleaners. That's why we love next door. We own this place."
"Haha, I know that. But how do you do it?" Lily asked.
"Come here." Her mother set down the shirt and picked up Lily placing her on her lap. She then picked the shirt back up and had lily hold the needle.
"It took me a lot of practice to get this down. And make clothes for you but I finally got it would you like to learn?"
"Mhm." Lily shook her head furiously. "Yes."
"Haha, okay. See you take the needle and....
----
4 years later...
"Thank you. We hope everything pleases you." Lily said as she handed another customer their clothes.
"Well done Lily." Her father said. "You can go take a break."
"Thank you baba!"
She ran to the back and took out her lunch and like usual began to read the fashion magazines that were there.
----
6 years later...
"Don't worry we'll fix this up in no time." Her mother said with a sweet smile then turned back to lily who was busy drawing on a napkin.
"Lily can you help me?"
"Yeah one minute."
"Lily now."
"Ugh. Fine what?"
"Sew this up for me." She said handing Lily a long black dress with a torn sleeve.
"Yes mama."
"And Lily."
"Yes."
"Here." Her mother held out a small blue box to lily.
"What is it?"
"I got you a sewing kit. I see you reading those fashion magazines and I've seen your drawings. I got you this so you can bring those to life."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"Oh thank you. Thank you mama."
"Haha your welcome. Now go to work."
"Yes mom."
----
2 years later....
"I love you. Text me every morning and every night okay." Her mom sulked.
"Yes mama."
"Don't talk to strangers." Her father warned.
"Then how will I make friends baba?"
"You won't."
"Haha."
"I wish you would've just gone to college and got somewhat stable before moving all the way across the country." Her mom whined.
"Mom please I am not smart enough for college. And please don't be to sad. I'll be safe. I'll be wise. And I'll text you everyday. Okay. Now I got to go or I'll miss my flight."
"Oh okay." She hugged her parents one last time before leaving for the airport.
"New York city here I come."
-----
5 years later...
"I'm sorry but we don't see any potential in you're designs."
"What?"
Five years, five years she's lived here and has worked her but off. Constantly coming up with new designs and patterns and clothes and nothing. And when she finally was able to get an interview with the largest fashion company in New York she gets shut down.
"What do you mean you don't see any potential?" Lily asked.
"We looked over your designs and well they're old. Outdated. So 90's."
"That's the point. My designs are suppose to be a combination of old and new. I incorporate the 90's cool with 50's class and the contemporary style of today's fashion."
"But people nowadays aren't rocking beehives and overalls are they. I'm sorry Mrs. Wang but we're done here."
"Please Mrs. Duval if you just give me a chance-"
"You had your chance." Mrs. Duval said harshly.
"Please. Just one shot. I won't let you down."
"Security."
"What?! No please-"
Lily was cut off when a big burly man picked her up and began to carry her out of the room. Lily began flailing yelling put me down but he never did until they got outside.
"If it makes you feel any better your designs aren't that bad." The security guard complemented.
"Oh wow, thank you." Lily said sarcastically.
She was alone. For five years straight she's done nothing but work. She's only made a few friends but after a few months or so they leave. She's worked several part time jobs just to stay afloat.
Her mom was right she should have gone to college, she thought to herself.
Well what can she do now. She's 24, working at a low paying boring job, and just got publicly humiliated.
"Well there's only one thing you can do in a time like this." She said to herself.
She crossed the street and began to make her way to the side walk until she reached a bar.
YOU ARE READING
JUST ONE NIGHT
RomansaLily was an aspiring fashion designer who was stuck in the 90's. She loves the music, the shows, and especially the clothes and she has finally gotten her chance to work for one of the biggest companies in New York. But when she's turned down she be...
