Terada looked at me for a moment, then spoke. “You’ll be working on workflow management.”

  “That doesn’t sound like an entry level position.”

  “It isn’t. Surely, with your work history that shouldn’t be a problem?”

  Was he testing me? I imagine he was, I didn’t look old enough to have as much work experience as was stated in my resume. It only made sense he would be skeptical. Anyone would be.

  “I’d rather not say until I see my workstation.” He nods in approval.

  “Very well, this will be your station.” He leads me over to a small, empty station in an equally empty section. He proceeded to boot the computer and while we waited, I asked the important questions.

  “There wouldn’t happen to be a manual or guide?”

  “No, your… predecessor retired rather suddenly. Not enough time for him, or us to put together a manual. Part of the reason you were hired on for the job. We’ve been managing but without him… well…”

  I could imagine. Soon, I was logged in and we began working through the processes. Though, sudden retirement boded ill, but it could just be a coincidence.

  “Your job is rather simple, in theory. You’ll get a notification when someone places a ticket for a request. The requests can vary quite wildly. Typically, you’ll be sending files from our various stations to different stations or coordinating with the different departments inside our company.”

  On the surface that sounded easy, but…

  “Can you do it?” he asked again.

  “I’ll need time to familiarize myself with the system.” I answered honestly. “Either way, I’ll be able to do it.” One way or another. Even if it meant restructuring the whole system.

  He nods, clearly happy with my answer. “Good, if you need anything don’t hesitate to ask me. I am the division leader.”

  “I understand, If I have any questions, I’ll be sure to ask.”

  With that he left me to my devices. There were already a number of tickets in the backlog. I took my time looking through them and through the data I had on hand. My computer had access to all the files in this division and could pull files from all over the company, so long as I made the relevant requests.

  On paper, my job was easy… only, I had to dig through all those files and know where they were. Like one of those Finding Waldo books. First half of the day was spent familiarizing myself with the systems and what department did what, in relation to our work. At some point, the new hires arrived and were scolded briefly for being late. After that, they were quickly separated out into the other groups.

  I barely noticed when it happened, immersed in my work as I was. At some point, lunch was passed over.

  “So, how’s it look?” Terada asked while handing me a sandwich and some water.

  I didn’t immediately reply. Just checked over my work again. “Whoever had this seat before must have known his stuff.” I answered back, barely hiding the reverence I had for my retired senior. “I wasn’t sure what I’d find, but it looks like he took the time to properly catalogue and organize everything. I should be picking up the pace now that I’ve familiarized myself with it.”

  “He was a good man.” Terada says, a little too wistfully. “Well, let me know if anything comes up.”

  “Will do.”

  I ate and worked. Stuffing the sandwich in my mouth absentmindedly while I worked. The keys on my keyboard clacked away, my mouse clicked rapidly. Soon, I began to rapidly resolve tickets, moving information from one place to another.

  Requests for editing, finished edits were sent back and forth, storyboarding information was downloaded and shared between artists. Along with a myriad of other information from simple schedules to internal memos.

  At first, it seemed like I was going to handle this well enough, but… just before I finished, more tickets came in. Then, the faster I worked, the faster they came in. I immediately realized that there was no way that I could finish these in a reasonable timeframe. The amount of work coming in outpaced my own work speed.

  I could have pushed myself. Forced it through. I knew that was a trap. I’ve been in companies before that keep pushing until something breaks. Which meant, I had to know how to pace myself. My speed would increase, as would my efficiency as time went on and the more familiar I became with the systems. The system my predecessor left behind was good, but it could be improved.

  For the rest of the day… everything seemed fine. It was my first day after all, even if this place had me wary, there was no way…

  Ah…

  I spoke too soon.

  Flashing on my screen was a very particular ticket. It was a request for editing, which was fine, but it was addressed to me, my station. Not the editing station.

  A mistake? Had to be. This was my first day, I mean… you boil a frog by slowly increasing the temperature. What idiot would just throw said frog into a pot of boiling water?

  Thinking it a mistake, I sent it back and continued with my work… Then, like a certain hockey masked killer, it showed back up. Curious if this really was a mistake, I sent it back a second time.

  It came right back. Each time with a higher priority. I stared at it. My fingers tapped at my desk.

  “Everything okay over here?” Terada came over.

  Did he notice me slowing down? That couldn’t be good.

  Do I blab? Snitch? I might get off the hook for doing it this time, but it could hurt my reputation. I already sent it back twice, sending it back a third time could cause other issues. How about a middle ground?

  “No, nothing’s wrong.” I said calmly. “Just thinking about how I can improve this system.” Not a lie, but not what was bothering me.

  “Of course, keep up the work.”

  “Will do.” I answered back automatically and looked at the document. It looked like a script. At a glance, it was obvious it was filled with typos. Doing it all would just embolden whoever sent this over. If I did a little and sent it back, about half, leaving some of the more obvious typos, I can get them to back off. If they keep pushing, I can complain.

  Seems sound… I quickly worked through the document, making a few obvious changes and a few not so obvious changes, then sent the paper back with a note for further editing. I half expected it to come back, but it never did.

  Before long, it was time to end the day. As I signed out and shut off my computer, Terada approached me.

  “Prima, care to join us for some drinking? We have a familiar haunt we visit after work.”

  Though he was asking, I could tell that I couldn’t decline. It was, quite literally, an offer I couldn’t refuse.

  “Sure, let me finish up and I’ll join you guys in the lobby.” He nods and leaves me. I make sure my space is tidy and head down the elevator this time and join the group. The sun was beginning to set and by the time we arrived at small bar the streetlights were flickering on, and darkness was setting in.

  The bar was just off the road, a set of stairs led down towards the entrance that was out of the way and couldn’t be seen from the street. The interior was nice and had a more eastern aesthetic to it. We were led to a meeting room with a large table, cushions for seats, and lit by a lamp that hung from the ceiling.

  Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

  It had a fairly nice atmosphere. Soft jazz played and everyone quickly settled into familiar spots. I was placed near Terada, whereas the other new recruits were placed beside veterans.

  It was obvious what they were doing, especially when menus were placed down. Terada ordered appetizers and a round of drinks, to which everyone cheered. The drinks came in large tankards, larger than my head. The frothing amber liquid looked absolutely divine, especially after a day’s work.

  We settled in, making small chat. We ordered, appetizers arrived, we continued to talk and share, mostly over small things. It wasn’t until we finished our first round that the real questioning began.

  At this point, I had a good buzz going. The cold alcohol quickly had me feeling warm and cozy. A maybe a little too warm and cozy.

  “Say, Prima, you have a lot of work experience despite your age, why is that?” One guy asked.

  “Yeah, I’m wondering too. You look so young, and the way you hold yourself, there’s no way your just anyone.” A woman asked.

  I stifled a yawn and considered how I should answer, if I should answer. I saw no reason not to. With a little spin, of course.

  “Mm, well, to start with I suppose I should start from the beginning…” I stifled another yawn. Ah, why was I so tired? I must really be a lightweight now… I’ll need to remember that and pace myself better next time.

  At my words, I could feel everyone leaning in.

  “So, I was born to a rather well-off family.”

  “Ha-ha! Called it!” A man called out, with a grumble cash exchanged hands.

  Ignoring that with a lazy sigh, I continued. “My parents never really cared for me though, since they wanted a g… boy.” I hiccupped. I saw some nods, nobody catching my near slipped. That was close…

  “They weren’t abusive, just distant. I worked hard and did my best, but that changed when my… brother was born.” I could feel a bit of clarity coming back as I spoke.

  “As soon as they could, they kicked me out. Had to get a part time job to survive. Barely made it through high school. After that, I was running from job to job, as my parents decided at some point to make my life a living hell for some reason. Moved from place to place, and well, that’s how I have so much experience.”

  I could tell that I soured the mood a little.

  “Well, I must say, having an ice princess on the team makes me feel a lot better.” The man that asked said with a small smile. Getting a chuckle out of me. The mood rapidly soared. As the night continued and more buzzed, they got, at some point Terada sidled up next to me.

  “How’d you like your first day?”

  At this point, I was swaying back and forth. I was halfway through my second tankard and was just about ready to fall asleep.

  “It was fun…” I yawned, failing to stifle it this time. “The whole system works well, and work just keeps coming in keeping me busy. Reminds me of my other jobs, just a lot less stressful.” For reasons better left unsaid. “I did get a bit of a shock when I received an editing request. Sent it back twice, but they were rather persistent, so I…” I stifled another yawn. “I just did some of it and sent it back.”

  “Oh…?” I blinked, the sleepy fog settling over me banished. Terada did not look happy. And… the table went oddly silent for a moment. Just as quickly though, the new recruits’ minders doubled down on their own conversations, keeping them busy.

  Terada looked towards a rather portly, balding fellow near the end of the table. He had glasses and reminded me of… a racoon in a way. He nearly snorted his beer the moment Terada looked in his direction, was he maybe, the one that did it?

  Well, no matter.

  “I hope that didn’t bother you at all?” Terada asked, a dangerous edge in his voice. He did a good job hiding it, but I could tell when a storm was brewing.

  “No, not at all. It’s one for all and all for one, as they say. We’re in this together, I don’t mind pulling a little extra weight when needed. Just a little surprising that I had to do that day one.” I said with a little laugh, and I could hear the nails being hammered into a certain man’s coffin.

  Hearing my words, the brewing storm seemed to abate, if only slightly. “Well, I’m sorry that happened. We’ll be sure it won’t happen again, but… you wouldn’t mind maybe helping out with the other stations here and there?”

  “I don’t. Part of the job and all.” Even if it was exploitive. What can I do?

  “Wonderful, I’ll see about having some of our editors and artists work with you later. In the meantime, eat drink, we have a bit more time.”

  I nodded and did as he said. As soon as I finished, I fell right to asleep. The soft jazz, the murmurs of the crowd, the warmth in my belly, combined with the exhaustion I was feeling… it all came together like a sweet lullaby sending me right to sleep…

  It was a familiar memory. Maybe it was the talk of my past? The warmth of the now that had me dreaming of this. A bittersweet memory.

  It was raining. Dark. Cold. I remember how numb I had felt. How lost I had felt. I was at the point where I should have been looking forward to my future. Having just graduated high school, I was fully prepared to take a scholarship, go to college, and so on, so forth.

  I didn’t know it at the time. How could I have? That this was just the beginnings of what was to become my curse.

  The scholarship that I was guaranteed to get, was suddenly and inexplicably denied. When I called the people that I had talked with, none of them would even answer the phone. Then came the other blow. My landlord upped the rent just when it came time to renew, then, came the final straw.

  The job I had worked at, an old gas station, had let me go. The owner was a bastard, but he paid well. He let me work there despite being a high school student, and it helped me an awful lot. He often seemed like he cared, in a rough, callous way.

  Only, he inexplicably fired me for no reason. Pretty much kicked me out while yelling and screaming. Which ended with me sitting on the sidewalk in the dark while it was raining. Only, I wasn’t alone. Despite the rain, a person, a young woman sat beside me.

  “God, I can’t believe that asshole fired you like that and with no warning.” She was a familiar face. We never really talked. We worked similar shifts. More often than not, she would slip out back to take a smoke break, leaving me alone to tend to the place.

  “I mean, even I know the only reason this shithole even runs is because of you.”

  Her words were nice to hear, but I was just done with everything. I didn’t respond. My head bowed. I didn’t say anything as she continued to talk and talk. Eventually, she went quiet.

  She wasn’t exactly a model citizen. She was as goth as goth could be. Black attire, piercings, dyed black hair, eyeliner, lipstick, the whole works. She wasn’t a great worker either. At least, that was what I thought.

  “Shit, I really suck at this…” She muttered. “Look, here.” And she shoved something in front of my face. A battered and clearly wet carton filled with cigarettes. For the first time, I raised my head and looked at her.

  “Trust me, I suck at this whole, whatever this is, but you clearly look like you’re in bad shape. So, how ‘bout working with me here. Just take one.”

  Numbly I took one, then looked at her. “Yeah, here…” And she lit it with a match after a couple of tries. Nearly burning herself in the process as she shielded the fragile flame from the rain.

  “Give it a huff.” I wasn’t exactly in the state of mind to question her, I did as she said and immediately choked and coughed. Sputtering. She laughed.

  “Happens to everyone!” She said back when I glared at her. “Give it a few more tries.” So, I did. Not like I had anything better to do. Once I was able to take it in without coughing, she continued.

  “Now, take in a nice breath, hold it for a moment and exhale. Yeah, just like that.”

  I took her advice. “Now, do it again.” And I did. “Now, focus on that. That feeling of your lungs burning. That feeling of breathing in and out. Just that, forget all that shit on your shoulders. Forget all of your problems and focus on that stick of cancer.”

  I almost huffed in amusement but gave it another go. Drag after drag I went until I could almost feel an unseen knot untighten.

  “Feels better, right?” She asked while lighting her own cigarette. “Like all your worried are just being, burned away and exhaled out. In, out. Like nothing else matters in this moment other than just breathing. Focus on that, yeah. Just keep focusing on that.”

  And so, I did. Before long, the cigarette was run down to the nub.

  “Feel better?”

  I didn’t trust my voice, so I merely nodded.

  “Good, now, how about we get out of the rain?”

  And we did. We walked away from the gas station and under the entrance of a building. The lights were off. Both of us were soaked through. While we walked, I had collected myself enough that I trusted I could speak without my voice cracking.

  “Should you really be talking with me? Isn’t it your shift?” It was a really stupid question, and she gave me the widest of grins.

  “Well, you looked like you were having a bad day and all, so I chewed out that old fucker and quit on the spot. Should have seen his face!” She finished with a laugh, and I couldn’t help but laugh too. It was petty, but it really would ruin his day.

  “I really wish I did.” I answered honestly, we shared another laugh. For the first time, I felt my heart flutter in her presence. Our eyes locked for a moment, our laughter slowly trailing off. Eventually we broke eye contact, I could feel that both of us were incredibly aware of how close we were. How our wet clothes stuck to our body.

  “So, what happened back there? Didn’t think this job meant all that much to you…”

  “It didn’t.” I hesitated, but in the end, I explained everything that happened. Every part of me wanted to break down, but I managed to keep my voice level and calm. Only because I already had my moment in the rain before she had arrived.

  “Well, shit…” She eloquently replied. “And I thought I had issues.’ She trails off and looks at me. “So, what now? I mean, you might as well be homeless, jobless, and have no future? Fuck, if I were in your position, I wouldn’t know what to do.”

  I considered. She was right. I was in a bad position, but… “Get back up…” I answered honestly. “Get a new job, a new place. I mean, what else can I do?”

  With those words, I felt that something had changed. The way she looked at me shifted again.

  “You’re serious? Aren’t you?”

  “Why wouldn’t I be?” I asked back in confusion.

  She bit her lip and swore. “Fine, you know what, fuck it.” She then stepped forward and before I knew it, she had grasped my shirt, pulled me down, went on her tiptoes and put her lips on mine… she was kissing me. Before I could even react, she pulled back. I looked at her face, her eyeliner running, her lipstick mushed all over her face. She looked like a mess, and yet, I couldn’t take my eyes off her.

  “How about you crash at my place.” She said with a smile and well… It wasn’t like I could refuse.

  I wish I had…