How Many Tears Are Enough?

One

"No, no, no, no!" Kara shoots up from her bed, tossing the sheets aside as she slams her hand on top of her alarm to turn it off. Her second alarm. The one going off at the time she should be leaving, not just waking up.

She rushes through her morning routine, forsaking half of it in favour of speed. Arriving late for her first day at her new, and very much needed, job does not leave a good impression. It's a miracle she got the job in the first placing, seeing how woefully unqualified she deems herself without a medical degree or any experience. Then again, she's been Cat Grant assistant and if she can survive that, she should be able to take care of another adult. Even if said adult is rumoured to be problematic.

Kara hops around her small living room as she slips her socks and shoes on while she searches for her purse and car keys, throwing a pack of cookies in her purse when she finally finds it. There's no time for breakfast so those will have to do. She's never been out the door and on the road this fast in her life.

Though she hates being late, especially on her first day, she doesn't speed. She expertly weaves her way through traffic and takes the fastest road away from the city's rush hour. The moment she exits the highway, traffic is so light it hardly seems rush hour anymore.

High rise buildings make way for small houses that grow increasingly larger and more luxurious with lavish gardens and pools. Before she leaves the city bounds, her phone starts vibrating. With a quick glance Kara presses the green button and puts her phone on speaker, tossing it in a cup holder so she can keep both hands on the steering wheel.

"Hi," she answers, both eyes on the unfamiliar road trying not to miss the next turn she has to take.

"Hey Kar!" Alex's voice drifts up from the cup holder, a little distorted and amplified by the shape of the plastic. "I just wanted to wish you good luck with your new job. You'll do fine, I believe in you."

"Thanks," Kara sigs.

"What's wrong?" Her sister, ever perceptive, of course immediately catches onto Kara's dejected mood, "they didn't already fire you, did they? You haven't even started yet."

"No, but they might as well. It's my first day and I'm already late."

"Oh. Well, just show them your worth when you get there. Make yourself irreplaceable."

"In one day?"

"Yes. I'm sure you'll do great and they'll love you."

Kara huffs loudly, she doesn't believe a word Alex says.

"They will and I'll keep my fingers crossed for you." Somewhere in the background of the call a timer goes off and the sounds of a desk chair rolling away follows.

"I've got to go, good luck. You'll do great. Believe in yourself. Bye!" With that, Alex cuts their call and Kara's car is silent once more – save for the low hum of the engine.

Kara knows Alex feels bad for not being there for her, for not having breakfast together like they used to do on the first day of school and every first or important day since, but Alex couldn't get out of work. It has been super hectic lately and Kara doesn't blame her for wanting to keep the job she loves.

Kara's small car crosses the city line and she knows she still has about half an hour more to drive and can see the minutes ticking away on her dashboard clock until the time she's supposed to arrive passes. With a resigned sigh, she watches the trees pass by far too slow.

The remaining minutes fly by and before she knows it Kara is taking the final turn and pulling up to a large gate. It slowly creaks open, allowing Kara to drive up the enormous driveway.