Getting A Mom: Baby Sitting His Daughter

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thing." The words echoed in the apartment, heavier than she expected. "Pearl, stop." "Don't 'Pearl' me!" she snapped, standing up so abruptly the strawberries nearly tipped over. "The rich just keep getting richer while the rest of us are stuck in the mud. Can't you see it?" Her voice trembled. "My degrees, my certificates... they're just expensive paper. And those bosses? They don't even look at my CV. They just look at me like I'm a prize to be won in exchange for a paycheck." The memory of certain interviews flashed through her mind-lingering stares, inappropriate smiles, the subtle suggestion that "cooperation" could open doors. Her stomach twisted. "It's disgusting." She sank back into the chair, sobbing into her hands. The frustration, the humiliation, the exhaustion of trying and failing-it all crashed over her at once. Ella was by her side in an instant, pulling her into a firm embrace. "Everything will be fine," Ella whispered, rubbing her back. "I'm not complaining, am I? That's what best friends are for. We carry each other." Pearl clung to her for a moment longer than she intended. "But I don't want to be a burden," she sniffed. Her phone chimed suddenly on the coffee table. Pearl's heart jumped. She lunged for it, hope sparking in her chest before she could stop herself. Maybe this was it. Maybe someone had finally said yes. The silence that followed felt endless. "Anything?" Ella asked softly. Pearl stared at the screen. The words blurred together for a moment before she forced herself to read them again. Closed. Her shoulders dropped as if something inside her had snapped. "They said I didn't meet the requirements." "Come here, baby." Ella opened her arms again. Pearl collapsed into them. "Listen to me," Ella said firmly. "You are better than the 'chosen ones.' A rejection isn't a funeral; it's just a redirection. You have the talent and the fire. Don't let some HR bot diminish your worth." Pearl sniffed, wiping her cheeks. "A better opportunity is out there," Ella continued. "Go and claim it." Pearl managed a weak smile. "Thank you, Ella. Truly." "Always." Ella pecked her cheek. "Now e