Second Chance

Chapter 1

On another day the aroma of burnt garlic noodles would have made my stomach groan. I may have even pecked at last night's leftovers while my coffee sat steaming on the kitchen counter. Only this isn't just another Monday. This is the day. Just the thought of eating makes me nauseous (though I wouldn't mind some caffeine in me if only I could spare the time). And today, of all days, is when my alarm clock decides to run out of battery. If it wasn't for Charlie's exasperated call that jerked me awake only a few minutes ago I would have been snoring deeply away until noon.

Charlie's voice crackles through my landline speaker, hushed by static and her breath. 'I need you here by 8:15 latest, are you listening? Nina?'

I spit the toothpaste out of my mouth and rush to the mic. 'Yes Charlie, I hear you. I'll be there by–'

'Oh! Why did this have to happen?'

She is asking that question more to herself than to me. Charlie has a way of making you feel guilty even when you aren't at fault. It's not my fault Ted made me in-charge of our Get To Know Us event. I'd have much rather worked on putting together our quarterly report, which Charlie had wanted finished last week and didn't miss a chance to bug me about every morning and afternoon. I'd have much rather wanted Charlie to be the one organising and hosting the event. My job is in finance after all. Punching numbers and filling out spreadsheets is what I am best at.

'I need you to take on this project, Nina,' Ted had said to me a week ago, 'I know you can do it. You already look the part, all you have to do is smile and welcome our guests. Easy, right?'

I was so at a loss for words that morning the only thing I remembered doing was nodding and staring at my meeting notes. How could I refuse the founder of the company? How could I say, actually it isn't easy. Being overlooked for your skills and abilities is never easy. And if I had the courage to speak up in a room full of corporate bullies I would have asked him was I not good enough to actually liaise with our clients? Was my only worthy skill to look good, smile and welcome them?

'...I'll schedule you in for a supervision next week,' Charlie's voice breaks my thoughts. 'I'm sorry to say this but you've really been slacking off recently.'

I roll my eyes, pulling my arm through my baby blue button down. Okay so I was late a couple of times the last few weeks and I didn't get that report ready by Charlie's deadline but I was too busy organising the biggest HR event in the history of our company. And I work in finance!

I want to scream those words at her face, maybe that would help get the point across. I grab the phone, intending to do just that. To hell with her being my boss.

'I'll see you in thirty minutes,' she says sharply. Her voice fizzes through the mic and into the silence of my studio apartment. Then the dial tone rings, drilling the point home that Charlie had hung up on me. Once again.

I let out a grunt and throw my head back. How did I get here? I open my eyes, immediately finding the photo frames that adorn my windowsill. A lump forms in my throat. I quickly swallow it down, breathing in deeply and squaring my shoulders.

'C'mon, Nina, you can cry about it later,' I say to my reflection in the full-length mirror I had screwed onto the wall. I have roughly five minutes to sort all of that out, I think to myself. Dark circles loom under my tired eyes. I know I had trouble sleeping recently but I didn't realise how bad it really is until this moment. Standing in my dimly lit bedroom corner makes them pop even more. I drag a brush along my caramel brown hair, mentally going over the schedule for the day.

By the time I reach the front door it is already eight. I spare a quick glance at my reflection in the window to my right. It's another gloomy, wet day outside and I wish I could say my reflection looks any better. When was the last time I washed my hair again? Well, it's clearly been a while. It sits limply over my shoulders now. I brush it over and contemplate tying it up. Suddenly my ringtone blares, making me jump.