My Hometown Love

Chapter 2 - Fired

“You’re fired!”

Mr. Thomson’s voice kept ringing in my head as I rode the elevator down. My eyes couldn’t hold back the tears that have been building up since I entered his office. I was filled with so many emotions at once that my knees and hands were trembling. 

“Ding! Eleventh Floor.”

As I walked back to my desk, I took in everything around me, like I was absorbing every detail as a memory for the last time. From Bill the water cooler guy to Michelle, my desk neighbor, I couldn’t believe that within a blink of an eye, it was all over and I would never be here again. 

I hurried to my desk only to see a brown box placed on my table. That was it. I couldn’t hold in my tears anymore, I sat down on my chair and started bawling my eyes out. Michelle quickly came over and started comforting me. 

“Lexie, I’m so sorry. They shouldn’t have done this just like that with no notice, not to you, not to anyone.”, she said as she pulled me in for a hug.

“Thanks, Michelle. I really appreciate it. But I just don’t want to talk about it anymore. It’s just too much to process suddenly.”, I said as I slowly pulled away from her hug. 

“I understand. I’m always a call away if you need anything okay?”, Michelle added before going back to her desk. 

I solemnly nodded at her as I turned back to my desk. The desk that I have been at for the past 2 years, pouring my heart into my writings. I remembered the day I first got this desk, I was so happy twirling in my chair as I started arranging my stuff on the table. 

I closed my eyes, wiped off my tears, and took a deep breath that honestly felt like forever. I started packing up my belongings as my colleagues approached me to say their sad goodbyes and best wishes.  

“I really loved working with you, Lexie. You will be irreplaceable.”, said Clara, my co-columnist as she patted my back and sadly walked away. 

Sighing deeply, I picked up my box and walked out of that building for the last time. I stopped and looked at the tall silver building in front of me as I said my silent goodbye before walking to the subway. 

***********

I plopped on my couch with a big mug of hot cocoa, my go-to comfort drink as I picked up my phone. I was debating if I should tell my friends and family. Not wanting my family to worry, I sent a message to my group message box asking if we can have an emergency meet-up tonight. I knew they were all working and would probably take some time to reply. 

DING! DING! DING!

I got three messages at once. This was surprising. It was like they telepathically knew I needed them.

Smiling as I read their messages, I was so thankful for having such great friends here in the city. I picked up my laptop and opened Netflix. Since I had time to kill, I wanted to binge-watch Grey’s Anatomy as I wallowed in my emotions. 

Five episodes and lots of hot cocoa later, I find myself rushing to get ready for dinner. I showered as quickly as I could, threw on my favorite black dress, and grabbed my bag just as I hear a car horn outside. 

***********

“Lexie!”, they all shouted in unison as I entered the car. 

There was Amy the banker, Jimmy the investment broker, and Lydia the kindergarten teacher. 

“So, what’s the emergency?”, said Jimmy as he pulled out from my driveway. 

“Yeah, it sounded urgent. Is everything okay?”, Lydia added.

“Could we talk about it over dinner, I’m starving.”, I replied as I wanted us to be at ease when I break the news, and this car is not the right setting. 

“Okay Lex, we’re going to Shake Shack.”, Amy said with an understanding look as she patted my hand. 

A quiet car ride and a long order to the waiter later, we were all were sitting around the table as my dear friends were all staring at me, waiting for me to start talking. 

“Okay Cooper, spill it!”, Jimmy said cutting the silence. 

So I told them everything from Abigail to Raj to me and everything in between. I was met with dead silence as they all took a second to absorb and respond. 

“That’s horrible Lexie. I am so sorry for you.”, Lydia started as she gave me a half hug next to me. 

“That is just cruel and probably illegal you know.”, Jimmy added as Amy nodded in unison. 

“So, what are you going to do now? Look for a new job? Go back to Oregon?”, Amy asked abruptly.

Sighing deeply, I thought of all my options. I couldn’t decide now, it’s just too soon. 

“I don’t know. I haven’t decided yet. I will let you know once I do okay?”, I answered back solemnly. 

They all nodded agreeing but I could see that they were genuinely worried.

“Okay, enough jibber-jabber. Can we eat now, please?”, Jimmy said cutting the silence and making us all burst into laughter.

That was Jimmy, the one who knew how to diffuse a serious situation and make us all laugh again. 

We all dove into our food, talking about all kinds of things except my newly unemployed status. We effortlessly talked and laughed all through the night. 

********

Jimmy dropped me off at home after we left Amy and Lydia at their respective houses. He got out of the car and leaned on the car next to me as we stared at my front door.

“Lex, you’re clearly not okay. You know we’re always here for you right, no matter what you decide?”, Jimmy said concernedly. 

“I know Jimmy. And I am so thankful for you guys. Thanks for being concerned”, I replied smilingly. 

“Will you please keep your thank you’s with you! Come on, we’re your friends and basically your New York family. We can definitely move past pleasantries now, it more than implied every time.”, Jimmy said as he shook my shoulders front and back, trying to drill his words into me. 

Laughing, I hugged him and we said our goodnights as I walked up to my apartment. 

I got ready for bed and desperately tried to fall asleep but the alarms in my brain didn’t agree. Sleep failed me as my mind races with all kinds of memories, thoughts, and dreams. 

I shut my eyes harder with the hope that my brain gets the message and goes silent but instead all I feel are the tears streaming down my face.

I have to face the fact I am an unemployed person living in the middle of New York City. How am I going to find a new job as soon as possible? How am I going to afford rent or even food? Sure, I have some savings but that will get depleted soon enough. What about my hopes and dreams?

It must have been about 4.00 am when the exhaustion of worry and anguish hit me and I found myself slowly falling asleep with a restless mind. 

RING! RING! RING!

My alarm blared out loud into the 6.30 am morning darkness. I sleepily reached out to routinely turn off my alarm and get out of bed to get ready for work. As I sat on my bed, desperately trying to wake my brain up, that’s when it hit me like a train. 

I’m unemployed! I’ve got nowhere to go this morning and I don’t know what I’m gonna do with my life.