Chapter Text
Four years ago, landing a job at Joja felt like stepping into a dream. For Cecilia, it was the threshold to the “real” world. As she stuffed her graduation cap and gown into a box, butterflies danced in her stomach. This was it—the moment she had envisioned since childhood, filled with the promise of stability and love. Her sunlit apartment, with its cozy corners and fresh paint, sparkled with potential. She could already picture the life unfolding before her: a job she believed was crafted just for her and a fiancé who shared her dreams, their laughter echoing through their shared space.
Each day, Cecilia poured her heart into her work, fueled by the belief that perseverance would lead to success. She approached her tasks with zeal, convinced that her dedication would be noticed. But with every promotion opportunity, the goalpost seemed to slip further away, like a mirage retreating into the desert. Time after time, she watched fresh-faced newcomers glide into coveted roles, their paths greased by privilege, while she forced a smile through the sting of disappointment.
“Let’s celebrate!” she would cheer, organizing gatherings for others’ successes, all the while burying her own heartache under layers of festivity. Yet hope flickered in her mind, painting vivid pictures of her dream wedding and a home brimming with love. “Things will work out,” she’d whisper to herself, like a mantra, “if not today, then tomorrow.”
Then came that fateful day in the conference room. Cecilia fidgeted in her chair, the cool leather sticking to her skin. Across from her, her manager's gaze held an unsettling mix of admiration and something else—perhaps pity. The overhead lights buzzed, casting a harsh glow that made Cecilia acutely aware of the fatigue etched on her face. Her manager’s words began to unfold like a paper crane, delicate yet ominous. “Your commitment has been remarkable,” she said, her voice smooth but void of warmth.
Cecilia’s heart quickened. Could this finally be it? A flicker of hope ignited in her chest with each word, like embers catching flame. “We’ve seen a huge increase in company morale since you began holding those social outings.” Yes! Her heart soared as she envisioned her efforts finally being recognized, each gathering a thread weaving her into the fabric of the company.
But then, the air shifted. “Which, sadly, makes this difficult for me.” The words hung in the air like a dark cloud. Cecilia's pulse raced as her manager pulled a small stack of papers from beneath the desk. The moment stretched into an eternity as Cecilia’s stomach dropped, the heading blurring before her eyes.
The room seemed to constrict around her. “We have decided that our time working together is over.” The words crashed over her, cold and unyielding, drowning out the world. The relentless tick of the clock filled the silence, its sound like a heartbeat counting down to oblivion. She felt the wooden armrest digging into her palms, grounding her in a reality that felt surreal.
“Corporate has deemed the drop in sales following your last endeavor unacceptable.” The phrase echoed in her mind, a grim refrain washing over her like ice water. She fought to steady her breath, grappling with the urge to argue, to plead for understanding. But Joja was a machine, relentless and indifferent, marching forward without regard for individual struggles or dreams.
Cecilia opted for what she did best: putting on a brave face. Summoning a small smile, she mechanically filled out the paperwork, each stroke of the pen heavy with the weight of her unfulfilled dreams. As she signed her name, the letters felt like chains, binding her to a past she couldn’t escape. Packing her desk became a ritual of loss; each item—an old coffee mug, a well-worn notebook, a framed photo of her and her fiancé—slipped into the box with the weight of memories.
The finality of it all pressed down on her chest as she made her way to the exit. She turned to wave goodbye to the youthful man behind the front desk, someone she’d always thought could be a friend. But as their eyes met, his smile faltered, morphing into a look of concern.
“Are you okay?” he stammered, surprise flickering across his face.
Cecilia forced her smile to stretch, feeling it crack at the edges. “Sorry, but it was finally time to cut my losses!” she replied, her voice overly bright, a jarring contrast to the chaos within. She could practically hear the whispers trailing behind her—Marketings Simple Cecilia, corporates’ perfectly trained dog.
His posture relaxed slightly, a hesitant smile creeping back as he offered half-hearted congratulations, but Cecilia couldn’t meet his gaze. Her heart raced as she scurried out the door, her face burning with shame. Left foot, then right. She focused on the pavement, willing herself not to crumble.
Once in the parking lot, each step felt like wading through thick mud, heavy with disappointment and regret. Her mind spun with memories of every misstep, every time she’d believed she was on the brink of success. As she fumbled in her pocket for the key fob, her hand trembled. It felt like an eternity before she found it, her finger hovering over the button, desperate for the reassuring beep that signaled escape.
Get into the car, lock the door, put the box in the back seat, buckle the seatbelt—she repeated the steps like a mantra, desperate for some semblance of order. The final click of the seatbelt felt like closure, yet it opened the floodgates. The moment she exhaled, a rush of tears threatened to spill over. The reality of what had just happened crashed down, a tidal wave sweeping away the remnants of her hope.
As she sat there, alone in the cocoon of her car, the world outside faded. She could still hear the echo of her manager’s words, the cold finality of corporate decisions. And with each breath, she grappled with the stark reality that her dreams had unraveled before her, leaving only shadows of what could have been.
She had cried during this drive before—usually out of stress and frustration—but today, her tears painted a different picture. A deep ache settled in her chest as reality took hold: she was jobless, adrift after four years of striving to make Joja less of a suffocating cage. What had she truly accomplished? The weight of her failures pressed down, leaving her wondering what lay ahead. The life she had envisioned felt impossibly distant, like a mirage shimmering on the horizon.
The thought of returning to her shabby apartment twisted her stomach. The landlord’s broken promises hung like dust motes in the air, reminders of a life spent scraping by. She could picture the worn-out AC sputtering ineffectively in the heat, the peeling paint, and the cramped spaces where she and Adonis barely managed to catch their breath.
As her car rattled over the potholes, the wind howled outside, a restless spirit urging her toward the edge of town as if sensing her turmoil. Her hands trembled on the steering wheel, knuckles white against the pressure. Tears streamed down her cheeks, each drop blurring her vision, distorting the familiar landscape that once felt like home. She gripped the wheel tighter, each mile bringing her closer to an uncertain future.
What would change the moment she stepped into that apartment? Would Adonis still believe in her? Would he understand? The thoughts swirled like a storm, threatening to drown her in a deluge of uncertainty and despair. She fought to steady her breath, but the weight of her reality felt like an anchor dragging her down. Would she ever find a way to rebuild her dreams?
Finally, she pulled into her parking spot, the familiar crunch of gravel beneath her tires oddly grounding. But an unsettling emptiness settled within her like a fog, thick and suffocating. She was out of tears, out of strength—what had once been a whirlwind of emotion now left her feeling like a hollow shell. Grabbing her things, her hands felt leaden as she trudged up the rickety stairs to her apartment. Each creak of the old wood echoed in the silence, amplifying her sense of dread, each step heavier than the last.
As she reached the door, a swirl of thoughts consumed her. Would Adonis be angry? She had been the steady anchor, the one bringing home the paycheck. The prospect of facing him filled her with a conflicting mix of fear and vulnerability. Would he still believe in her, or would disappointment shadow his eyes? The thought twisted painfully in her gut. She had envisioned a life together built on shared dreams, but now uncertainty loomed over everything.
Reaching her door, she paused, hand hovering over the knob. The world outside faded away, leaving only the quiet thrum of her heartbeat.
Turning the key in the lock, she stepped inside met with a scene that felt more foreign than welcoming. Biscuit, their dog, ambled over, shaking off the last remnants of sleep. His tail wagged tentatively, but his eyes betrayed the tension crackling in the air. Adonis sat by the stove, his attention consumed by his phone, the blue light casting sharp shadows across his face. A pot of instant ramen bubbled furiously, steam curling into the air like her unresolved worries, filling the space with a familiar yet suffocating warmth. The background music from his new favorite game pulsed through the room, a jarring contrast to the tempest swirling inside her.
Normally, she would have let out a sigh of relief, her breath finally escaping after a long day, but tonight, that release eluded her. Instead, a heaviness settled over her like a thick fog; the air stung her throat, and her shoulders drooped under the weight of words she couldn’t bring herself to speak. She glanced at Adonis, his fingers tapping away, lost in a world that felt miles away from her own, and for a moment, the silence screamed louder than any argument ever could.
Aimlessly, she walked through the home, heading straight to the bedroom. It felt surreal, moving through the space they had built together. After placing the box on the dresser, Cecilia caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. She looked like a wreck. The wind had transformed her hair into an unkempt mess that framed her red, swollen face. Her eyes were irritated, streaked with remnants of makeup that had long since betrayed her. She couldn’t stand it.
She peeled off her clothes and stepped into the shower, letting the warm water cascade over her, hoping it would wash away the remnants of her day. Changing into her favorite old sweatpants and a gag gift from her older sister—a black shirt emblazoned with the text “Big Dick is Back in Town”—felt like donning a disguise. Normally reserved for laundry days, this outfit now felt like a shield against the world. Adonis always pushed her to dress nicely, knowing it made her happy, but tonight, she couldn’t muster the energy to care, especially with Biscuit staring at her with his soulful eyes. She knew what he wanted, but it was already an hour past his standard dinner time. Adonis was supposed to be responsible for him since she had anticipated working overtime.
As she walked into the kitchen, Biscuit excitedly followed, his wagging tail a silent plea for attention. “Hey, babe, did—” Her question was abruptly interrupted by Adonis yelling over his game, his focus laser-like as he engaged with the virtual battlefield. It struck her then, sharp and painful—he must’ve forgotten to feed their dog. A wave of sympathy washed over her for the poor little guy, but her own frustrations simmered beneath the surface as she reached for the dog food.
While feeding Biscuit and warming up leftovers for herself, Cecilia’s mind raced. She needed a job desperately. The check she had been handed on her way out wouldn’t cover the down payment for renewing their lease in two months, and there was no way she could find a new job that would make up the difference, especially with the looming necessity to buy groceries. The thought of their shrinking savings gnawed at her, a constant reminder of their precarious situation. A beep from the microwave jolted her from her spiraling thoughts, and she pulled her food out, ready to face Adonis.
As she sat down to eat at their tiny table, she noticed Biscuit whining at Adonis's feet, his little body vibrating with eagerness to go outside. All the dog wanted was to be able to relieve himself without getting scolded, but there was no getting through to the man now, lost in his virtual world. Leaving the takeout box on the table, she grabbed her headphones and the leash, determined to take their dog out for a quick walk. She hoped this was just an abnormal night for Adonis, that there was some special event in his game that justified ignoring their pet’s needs.
Before her thoughts could darken further, she hit play on her favorite playlist. Cheerful indie pop spilled from her phone, each note a burst of color against the dull backdrop of her day. Beneath the streetlight, Biscuit pranced at her side, his scruffy fur and sleepy eyes reminiscent of a hungover teenager. The corners of her mouth lifted into her first genuine smile of the week, a small victory amid the absurdity of it all. Just an hour ago, her mind had been tangled in the dread of losing her job; now, she was floating back to high school days, where carefree laughter mingled with sweet nostalgia.
Biscuit wrapped up his business with a triumphant little bounce, and together, they made their way home, the weight of the world lightening with each step.
“Welcome home, baby!” Adonis called from the dining table, his laptop casting a blue glow across the room. His cheerful tone fell flat as he caught sight of her, the warmth fading from his face, replaced by a distant gaze. “You didn’t go to work like that.”
Cecilia might have laughed at the absurdity, but a heavy ache settled in her chest, the familiar dread rushing back. “I’ve been home for a while,” she murmured her voice barely a whisper, the turmoil behind her words barely contained. Adonis blinked at her, confusion etched on his features until his gaze landed on the leash dangling from her hand.
As she tucked away the dog supplies and offered Biscuit his post-potty treat, Adonis launched into a lively recount of his day, his hands animatedly illustrating the epic battles of his gaming world.
Cecilia wanted to be present; she knew she should lean in show interest, but it felt like climbing a mountain. Instead, she offered a soft smile, her cold dinner forgotten, letting his words wash over her like the fading echoes of a distant song.
“—But that’s when I was able to plant on B side and beat that team of re—” Her head snapped up, eyes narrowing. “Don’t finish that.”
Adonis laughed, his attempt to lighten the mood echoing in the space between them. “What’s got you so spacey? Daydreaming about our big day?”
The phrase struck her like a slap. Staying in the city would mean dipping into the money he claimed to be saving for a ring—an unspoken betrayal of the dreams they once shared. She remembered the night he proposed in the back of his old truck, stars twinkling above them, the makeshift paper ring a promise of forever.
A wave of warmth washed over her, a stark contrast to the cold reality pressing in now. She had reassured him then, telling him that love was what mattered, that they didn’t need fancy things to build their life together.
Adonis snapped his fingers in front of her face, breaking the spell. “Seriously? I’m getting worried. What’s going on?”
Her eyes pricked with unshed tears, and a tight knot formed in her throat, pressure building like a dam ready to burst. She wrestled with the words she had rehearsed in the shower, but Adonis remained still, his expression a blank canvas, waiting for her truth.
“I…” Her head throbbed, the weight of reality pressing down mercilessly. “Jojo… they, uh…” Her stomach twisted, the words threatening to unravel her composure. “They fired me.”
He didn’t say anything. His silence stretched into an uncomfortable void, an invisible chasm as he processed the news. His eyes flicked around her face, searching for any hint that this was a cruel joke. The truth settled heavily between them, a weight pressing down, and Cecilia could no longer hold back the tears. She buried her face in her hands, her voice trembling as she stammered apologies, insisting she would start looking for new jobs tomorrow. But her frantic pleas fell into silence as he closed his laptop and retreated to the bedroom, leaving her alone with her swirling thoughts.
Cecilia knew the routine. He’d head to the bar uptown, drowning his feelings in whiskey and quick fixes, returning only when the fog of his thoughts lifted. He’d told her before that he needed space to process big things, and a good girlfriend would respect that. Yet, the ache in her chest throbbed with each passing second. She kept her head in her hands until the sound of the front door clicking shut echoed through the empty apartment, a final farewell that hung in the air.
Biscuit nudged her leg with his wet nose, his dark eyes filled with concern as if he could sense the heaviness in the room. It was bedtime, he seemed to say, and Cecilia nodded, conceding that today had been more than enough.
Slipping under the worn covers of their creaky bed, her mind refused to settle. It kept drifting back to the nightstand, where she knew a certain letter lay hidden—the one her grandfather had entrusted to her on his deathbed during her junior year of college. The one he’d made her promise to open when she felt trapped. Back then, she had brushed it off as a sentimental gesture, certain of her path and eager to seize life’s opportunities. Now, though, she felt the weight of his wisdom pressing against her like an anchor.
With a sigh that felt heavy in her chest, she turned on her lamp, casting a soft glow across the dim room. Biscuit groaned softly, adjusting his position beside her, but she ignored him, reaching into the drawer. The act felt surreal as if she were unearthing a relic from a long-lost time. What was she expecting to find in that unassuming envelope? A key to unlock a new life? A map to guide her through the maze she had become so ensnared in? The thought felt almost laughable now, but desperation clawed at her.
She pulled the letter from the drawer, the paper crinkling softly in her hands. It felt weighty significant, as if it held the secrets to a different future. Her heart raced as she slid her finger along the edge, hesitating for just a moment, wondering if the answer she sought could really be found within. The glow of the lamp illuminated her anxious expression, a mix of hope and trepidation, as she prepared to face whatever her grandfather had left behind for her in that simple, ordinary envelope.