Wounded Heart.

ree months of job hunting had turned me into a master of fake confidence-back straight, chin up, dreams crumbli

onist gestured to a row of chairs where four candidates s

al gray suit who walked in and, to everyone's surprise, took a seat among us and lounged in his chair like he owned the place. He pulled out his phone and started scrolling, just like the rest of us. He caught my eye and smiled-not a nervous, "we're-all-in-this-to

guez?" the rece

ly stood up and walked

ce sharper than intended. "I ar

cticed smile. "We have our own

nez, S

nd whispered, "Don't bother. He

t who you know. He looked back at me and smirked just before disappearing into the

lap in the face: "We regret to inform you..." "While your qualifications a

oking defeated. When Mr. Alex finally came out, he was grinning and

onia Ma

for weeks. But the interviewer seemed distracted, checking his phone t

il of the week. The words "We regret to inform you" burned into my retinas as I orde

g your s

g onto the barstool next to me. The unive

, the alcohol making my tongue sharper than usual. Two glasses o

ed his

he emails weren't goin

cut." I raised my glass in a mock toast. "Congratulations on

d. "What's that

en to my ears. "We all know why you got the call

d around to see if there was a clown in the room making jokes. Whe

the door, but the floor seemed to tilt bene

ondition to dri

ll away. "I'l

d you drop yours in your b

ht. My phone was soaked, the screen da

oice gentler now. "Consider it my privi

supposed t

ou to alm

cut through the musty bar smell. But the room was spinning faster now

. "But this doesn'

o his car, the leather seats impossibly soft. His v

t for my shoes, which were neatly placed by my bedroom door. O

nterning there since sophomore year. But thanks fo

more than just a hangover. Somehow, his ki

ag of rice-apparently Alex's at

we are pleased

They were offering me a position

gnature part-Signed by CEO, Alex Rod

phone, remembering every awful thing I'd said to him

dn't just be the guy

be my

eemed like far too little medici