*Andrea*
LA was no different from Florida, if you ask me. Well, aside from the fact that I am jobless. It has been three months, and I have not been able to get a job. This has made me question my decision to come here greatly
Maybe I should not have come.
My hands reached for my stomach, holding the little belly bump which was slowly becoming visible. It wasn’t that I wasn’t being invited to job interviews or anything, I have never been able to secure a job.
There were always excuses; it was either I was not qualified, or they thought I could not handle the job since I was pregnant.
I sighed for the hundredth time as I allowed my eyes to wander outside the windshield of the cab I was in.
The driver sent me a weird look from the rear mirror. I inhaled sharply as we got close to my destination. I had an interview today.
The cab soon pulled over in front of Nexus Company. I stood in front of the tall building, trying to capture every inch of it with just my eyes, but that seemed impossible.
People brimmed around, completely oblivious to me. I was glad though. I had enough of some weird looks thrown at me by judging eyes.
I squared my shoulders and inhaled a scent of breath before stepping in, clenching my black bag closer to myself.
I was astonished to see over twenty people clustered in the hallway. Were they all here to get the job? I wondered.
I had thought the only available position was that of a Graphic designer, but seeing this, I couldn’t help but wonder how wrong I had been.
I was handed a number tag by the lady who came to address us all. She held a stern look on her face, and I could only hope she didn’t point out my stomach and tell me the job wasn’t open for pregnant women.
When it was my turn, I walked into the office. Three men sat behind the table, and I sat in front of them, along with two other girls.
I had a passion for designing which may be why I was confident that I’ll get this job. The interview went well. Just when I was about to leave, one of the interviewers pointed to my stomach.
“You are pregnant,” he said.
It wasn’t a question. I had not stated anything like that when I applied. I knew they would not give me a chance if they found out.
I tried to smile, but my lips shook.
Papers flipped, “and it’s not mentioned here,” the other two girls sent me a questioning look before leaving the office.
“Well, I…” I began searching for the perfect word to say.
“We’re sorry, but this position isn’t open for pregnant women.”
“You should take your time to evaluate the interview. I don’t think there is anything that I…”
“It’s the pregnancy that we’re referring to and nothing else. Sure, you did well, but then,” the only lady amongst both men spoke, “there are other things that are taken into consideration. For example, your honesty.” She said, and I bit the inside of my mouth.
“I just wanted to…”
“Miss Wilson, we’ll be in touch.” She said with a stiff smile and I knew that was my clue to leave.
The two girls who had left earlier must have told the others about me as I heard them say different mean things.
“Can you imagine, she wanted to buy her way in though she was pregnant. She may have thought her pregnancy was enough to evoke pity,” one said.
“Pregnant girls should sit at home; why make this place crowded?” Another question.
“I bet that baby is a bastard; she probably doesn’t know the father or the father rejected the child. That’s the only explanation as to why she is here while she is pregnant.” The third lady said.
I wanted to shout at the bitch for calling my child a bastard. I wanted to pull her hair out and yell at her and tell her that this child is not a bastard, but I decided to keep it all in.
I would not give them any chances to make me lose this job.
And they were kinda right. Alejandro had abandoned us. He must be living his best life with his wife, and here I am.
By the time I got home, it was past 3 pm.
Alison was on the couch, her laptop in front of her. Her hair was tied in a messy bum and held with a pen.
“Hey there, how did it go?” She asked. I walked to the kitchen and pulled out a bottle of water from the fridge.
“I don’t think it went very well,” I said. I uncalled the bottle and drank directly out of the bottle.
“As long as you haven’t been sent any email, there are chances that you’ll get the job,” she said, and I knew that was impossible, not after the last few minutes I spent in that office. But I didn’t tell her about it.
I placed the bottle on the top of the table with a thud. The table was littered with bills.
I picked a copy of it and walked towards Alison.
She has been paying the bills and everything. “I am sorry, Alison. I’ll pay you my part when I get a job.” I said
“It’s fine. Focus on getting a job first. You’ll need the money for the baby.” She moved my gaze to my stomach.
When I count my blessings, I count Alison twice. She was just all I needed. So supportive and caring and… I was not able to find the right words to describe her.
“You should freshen up and rest. You can’t keep stressing our baby.” Alison said.
“Fine, fine.” I agreed so she’d stop nagging. Later that day, a heavy thud on the door, which came repeatedly, jotted me awake from the late nap I was trying to take.
I heard Allison’s footsteps as she hurried to the door.
“I thought you were going to ignore me again.” A voice rang out as she opened the door.
“Good evening, sir.” I stood sleeping, eluding me at that moment. “I don’t fucking need your greetings. You’ve been ignoring me all day.” He yelled again. I had just stepped out.
“And you’ve been ignoring my calls so I have to walk down here myself.”
He was the landlord. We were just one month behind so why was he here already?
I fiddled with my fingers as I stepped forward, not deeming it right for Alison to take all the hit and blame.
Sometimes I wondered how we came to this. It still feels like a dream, that someone can lose all they have overnight.
We had savings before we left. We’d not have left if we didn’t, but now we had nothing.
The traveling agent was a scam and had ripped us off our money. We used the little money that was left to rent this apartment and were fortunate that the landlord had agreed to accept monthly payment.
However, we have been unable to pay for the past month. It would still be easy if I hadn’t fallen sick and Alison had to spend money on me, bringing us back to square one.
“Please give us a little time. We’ll settle the payment by the end of the week.” Alison reasoned with the man.
“Why should I? It makes no sense.” The man moved his eyes to me; his gaze lingered on my belly for a few seconds.
“We’re so sorry it has to come to this. Please give us a bit more time.” The man stroked his beard, his head slightly slanted backward in thought.
“Fine. But if you aren’t able to pay back by the end of this week, then you’ll have to find another apartment, cause you’ll be kicked out.” He thundered before he left.
After he left, I sat on the couch. The apartment wasn’t as big as the one we once lived in. We have also cut down our expenses, but it still isn’t easy.
“I’m truly sorry, Alison,” I said, my eyes wet with tears that threatened to fall.
“For what?” She asked and moved closer to me. “I caused this. I…” sniff and sob. Tears ran down my cheeks.
“If I didn’t…” sniff, “if I didn’t wanted us to leave our life and come here. If I didn’t,” sniff.
I couldn’t complete my sentence. Alison pulled me closer to herself and patted me on my back. “I put us both in this mess.” I cried.
“No. You didn’t. You didn’t cause anything. We all make mistakes and learn from it. You caused nothing, I took the decision to come with you. You are my sister and I’ll do what I did again and again. I don’t care if things are hard now, I believe it will get better.” She said.
“But…”
“No buts, we have to be strong.” She said.
That night, I lay on my bed, the jars in my head spinning. I tried to think of a way out of this mess. I tried hard not to think about Alejandro, but like every other night, I couldn’t.
Tears stained my pillow, too. The hollow feeling in my heart returned.
I don’t remember falling asleep. But I do remember waking up with migraine. While we were eating breakfast, my phone beeped.
A message from Nexus company. I tapped on it to reveal the message.
“You passed the first interview. You have been invited to the second interview, scheduled tomorrow at noon.” I paused and reread it to make sure I had read it correctly.
“They want me to come for a second interview.” I stood up roughly, pushing the chairs I sat on.
“That’s good news, let’s celebrate,” Alison said, standing with me.
I laughed at her reaction. I haven’t gotten the job yet.
The next day, I woke up early. After breakfast, I started dressing up. The last thing I wanted to be was late for this interview.
“We’re going out to celebrate when you return,” Alison said.
“I haven’t gotten the job yet, girl,” I yelled over my shoulder as I wore a black formal dress. I wanted something to hide my bump.
“You will; I can feel it.” I shook my head over her response.
I hope so. I hoped she was right. “Here, have this.” She walked towards me and handed me a small can of juice. “It’s for strength.” She said.
“It’s not like I’m going there to fight,” I said, taking the can of juice from her hand.
Alison waved at me as I Left.
The hallway was not filled with people like I had imagined. Two girls sat on the chair close to it, engrossed in a heated conversation.
“The CEO is here himself, personally interviewing them.” One said. My ears picked up at this.
“Is he there, or will we go meet him?” The other asked.
“He will be here.” They both seemed confused as if they weren’t sure. If the CEO would be here himself what are the chances that I’ll get the job?
I closed my eyes and leaned into the chair, desperately hoping my thoughts were wrong.
“What are you doing here?” A voice asked, bringing me out of my reverie.
It took a few seconds for me to realize she was referring to me. I stood. It was the same woman from yesterday.
“Well, I was invited for the second interview,” I said. She furrowed her brows.
“You?” She sounded surprised. “Well, you should go home right now then. It was probably a mistake. I told you yesterday.” She said.
“But you also said you’d be in touch.” I didn’t mean to counter or challenge her, but I just couldn’t lose this chance.
Not when I was already here.
“You want to work with that?” She pointed at my belly bump. My hands unconsciously moved to my stomach.
“Yes. I can work with or without my bump; I’m pregnant, not disabled.” I said.
“Well, no one cares about that. Leave this instance,” she ordered. I felt my world shatter.
Not again.
“What’s going on?” A deep, hoarse voice said. Footsteps echoed, people parted ways, and a tall, huge man stood in front of us.
That voice sounded familiar.
“Sir…” The lady bowed in respect, and I did the same.
I lifted my head only to be met with a face I never thought I’d see.
“You…”