The stack of rejection emails felt endless. Amelia's laptop had become a cruel reminder that the world she wanted to step into wasn't exactly waiting with open arms.
"Another one?" Beth asked, peeking over her shoulder as Amelia scrolled through her inbox. Beth had just come back from her fifth interview that week, her grin brighter than ever.
"Yup," Amelia muttered, slumping into the chair. "This one's from that marketing firm I liked." She sighed. "'We regret to inform you…' Blah blah blah. It's like I'm cursed."
Beth shook her head, laughing softly. "You're not cursed. You just haven't found the right fit yet. And you will. Trust me."
Amelia wanted to believe her, but the sting of repeated rejection was becoming harder to ignore. At least Beth's luck was turning. The previous week, she had landed an offer from her dream law firm. Watching her glow with excitement made Amelia happy for her, but it also reminded her of how far behind she still felt.
"Here," Amelia grabbed the stack of notes she'd scribbled while helping Beth practice for her interviews. "Maybe I can help you prep too. At least I'll be doing something productive while I wait for the next rejection."
Beth's eyes lit up. "Amelia, you're the best. Seriously. You've been my personal cheerleader through all of this."
Amelia smiled. Helping Beth felt strangely empowering. She might have been struggling, but she had skills, she knew how to organize her thoughts, prepare for interviews, and encourage someone when they needed confidence, even if she couldn't always find that confidence in herself.
By mid-afternoon, her phone had been buzzing again. Another rejection, this time from an advertising firm. Amelia stared at the screen for a few seconds before groaning. "That's it." Beth looked over. "what?"
"I need money, even if it's temporary."
Beth tilted her head, curious. "What are you thinking?"
Amelia glanced towards her laptop. Then toward the cafe application she'd been meaning to submit.
"A cafe job," she said. She had already considered it, she'd just been hoping she wouldn't have to settle for it
"Something to keep me afloat while I keep applying. At least it's honest work."
Beth grinned, "Then apply" Amelia looked at her. "That's your advice?"
"Yep"
"That was incredibly profound"
"I know"
Amelia laughed despite herself. Then she reached for her laptop. She wasn't giving up on the career she wanted. But she couldn't keep waiting for the perfect opportunity while her bank account got closer to nothing.
Dakota's Cafe could be temporary. It could be a stepping stone. And maybe, jut maybe, taking a small step into the ordinary world. Serving coffee, meeting people face-to-face, could open doors she hadn't even considered. For now, that was enough.