r doors opened, and I entered Gr

n area, my shoes clicking shar

ngs, abstract art on the walls,

e, which exuded luxury and seemed

n desk, I tried to ignor

med to reach her eyes-automatically practiced, the kind of smile onl

tension in my chest, bu

the main office through the glass doors. Ever

o preoccupied with their work that

fly in a well-oiled machine

verything I had lost in the past and was fa

rifted back t

e together, the lofty aspirations he h

appiness, and eternity. But when I most

g realization that the man I had trusted had

remembered the words he ha

sufficient for m

ght of those words in this place, w

e memory lingered beneath my skin like an itch, remindin

Car

artled me, a

r face unreadable. I forced myself to straighten up and

, sounding cal

her eyes. "You have been expected. I'll

feeling of inadequacy creeping

hurtful remarks as we passe

I have trusted such an unworthy person? T

, the woman ushered me into an

all intent on their work, and it was qui

red to me, it felt more like a

impressionable young woman duped by Benjamin. But, it also se

me a tablet containing the company's polici

leak, quiet room after saying, "Your

ds on the screen were blurry. Everything here appeared to be a

the past, I reclined in my c

e to start over, or was it just life reminding me that I would alw

hing footsteps. The man who entered the room was my supe

ther than a smile and then went o

mind was still far away, mir

where I had felt even more out of place, the ch

books close to my chest as I stood

hispering, their laughter harsh and cruel.

d it ev

uiet, reserved girl who kept to

one was interested in seeing. But they made sure I

rls laughed heartily, their word

ause she receives straight As she is s

ed my cheeks, but

d that reacting onl

kept my head down, and tried to

made nasty jokes about my hair, clothes, and ever

s and made fun of my appea

very day seemed like

class one day when a crumple

evous-looking boys laughing behind me. My

to an ugly caricature in their cartoon depiction of me.

. But, I didn't. I had discovered that it was be

clever, too clumsy, too unique. But nobody

l rang, but the memory persiste

shness and never thought she deserved anything mo

of my past followed me when

s I sat at my desk, and I came to the sobering rea

white tiles glowing harshly and viciou

sharp, fitted suit, was staring back at me as I sto

I had put on to survive the outside wor

u could play the role if you looked the part. On the inside, thoug

ressing down on me as my finge

my mother's breakdown, my shattered upbringing,

eighed down by a thousand broken p

g my mind. What if I lacked the strength to accomplish this? Wh

irl who had never enti

My opportunity to show myself that I could

ored doubts. Was it possible for me to break free from the bonds of

the phone rang. Alexander's name flashed on the s

at the same time when I an

sured voice. "I must say that after l

pite the butterflies in my chest, I

to see you again. There is more to

de my stomach turn. Would I actuall

ng tone, "I'll be in touch. You possess a

ill pressed to my ear as the call came to a

nally take

d be the chance I'v

impression that Alexander was

I trus

stions. As I reached for the handle, I heard ano