Lyra Voss had, for most of her life, believed that she was pretty strong, pretty capable—at least enough to handle what the world might throw at her.
But life in the last few years had shown her that just when she thought it couldn't get any worse, it became twice as bad.
Sick relatives
Family issues
An underpaying job
Debts... loads of debt
And now this.
Clutching her mom's hand with her plastic-covered ones, she couldn't help but break down in tears.
"I-I... I ca-n't, I can't—Mom... I'm so tired... I can't do this anymore," she stuttered out, her words a slobbering mess.
Gently placing her shielded face against her mom's hands, she sobbed heavily, her voice echoing against the walls of the single room in time with the beeps from the cardiac monitor and the whirring of the ventilator.
She couldn't help it. She was just about to drown in her problems.
Turns out she wasn't as strong as she thought she was after all.
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"Hey... sorry to disturb you, but I heard there was an opening, and I was wondering if I could apply," Lyra inquired, a charming smile that could light up anyone's day spreading across her lips.
Despite the mountains of troubles she was facing, they didn't wear down her enchanting beauty.
"Sure, it's open to all qualified personnel. Just walk through that door right there and turn to your left. You'll find a lounge where other interested persons are waiting," a lady behind a counter responded, gesturing with her hands, the light of an LED with the acronym MNM falling on her.
"Thank you so much," Lyra smiled even brighter.
In light of her current job-searching heist, she had encountered many receptionists, and most of them were not half as nice as the one in front of her.
"You're welcome, and good luck," the lady replied, a standard business smile still on her lips before turning to another person.
'Such a nice lady. Hope we get to work together,' Lyra sighed.
Walking through the specified door, she immediately spotted the lounge and took a seat with others who were there for the same reason. Soon after, a staff member walked towards her to issue her a number.
An hour later, she was called in, and she strolled into the interview room.
Twenty minutes later, she came out completely crestfallen and disappointed.
"Damn, how could I have had the chance to take up a training course on AI when I was barely struggling to survive?"
Disgruntled, she kicked at a recycle bin by the side, making a loud rattling sound.
Stunned, she stiffened, feeling the stares directed at her.
Lowering her head, she muttered a few words of apology under her breath as she quickly scurried out of the lounge.
Returning to the lobby, she soon slowed to a halt as her gaze fell on a gaming console in a showcase by the side. She couldn't help but remember her younger brother, a scene from her past playing in her head.
---
"Happy birthday, Kiel!!"
A young boy with curly brown hair, his focus on a book in his arms, jumped in fright at the shout, almost bumping into the door behind him.
"Hope you grow taller this year, scaredy cat."
Sneaking behind him, a beautiful girl poked the frightened boy, a grin on her face as he scowled at her.
An older woman walked towards them, a small cake with eight lighted candles in her hands.
"Happy birthday, little rogue," she whispered, planting a kiss on the boy's forehead.
A blush crawled up the boy's face, but his eyes brightened at the sight of the cake.
The woman laughed at his reaction, the sound soothing and melodious.
"Come, come, cut your cake," she smiled, leading them to the small table in the middle of the barely furnished room.
Swatting away the little boy's hands that reached for the knife, the young girl poked his head, an amused smile on her lips.
"You haven't made a wish yet."
"Oh yeah."
Quickly closing his eyes and clasping his hands, the little boy silently made his wish.
"What did you wish for?" the girl asked curiously.
"I can't say."
"Whatever, cut your cake," she muttered, rolling her eyes.
Having finally cut the cake and satisfied his cake craving, the little boy looked around, his eyes searching. Seeing his look, the older woman smiled sadly. Slightly hesitating, she opened her mouth.
"Little rogue...I'm sorr—"
"The cake was so good, Mom. Kiel, let's go tell Uncle Jared it's your birthday!"
The young girl interrupted, dragging the boy away, her ponytail swinging in the air along with her movements.
The little boy let her pull him along, his expression downcast, failing to even see that they were going the wrong way until they came to a stop.
"Wait... what are we doing in your room?"
"Happy birthday, Kiel."
Ignoring his question, the girl smiled, pulling out a box wrapped in old brown paper.
Skeptical, the boy grabbed it, then tore off the wrapping, his eyes widening in shock at the Nintendo console, his first ever.
"Sis... you—"
"Mom got it, but she wanted me to surprise you. Happy birthday, little rogue," she whispered affectionately, her hands lightly raking through his hair.
Just as she finished talking, she felt a tight hold around her. Her smile grew even bigger as she wrapped her arms around him. Then, she heard him whisper,
"Thank you, I... I love you, sis."
And somehow, she felt like it was her birthday too, and she had received the best present in the whole world.
She knew her mom was struggling to keep their family afloat, so she had saved and scrimped, even working extra hours during their summer break, just to get Kiel a gift so he wouldn't be disappointed.
But even the scars and tiredness from those days couldn't overshadow the joy she felt right now.
---
"Hey, miss, do you need something?"
Jerking back to focus, Lyra shook her head at the woman who had walked up to her in concern.
Taking one last look at the console, she turned around to leave, wiping at the stray tears that fell down her eyes.
Right now, she couldn't help but long for the past—when she and Kiel would bicker but still wait to tell each other about their day through their makeshift wall. Now, they would go months without talking.
When their mom, worn out from the toil of work, would still make time to chat with them. Now, she couldn't even spend a night out of the hospital ward.
They barely had anything then, but they had each other, and that was enough to keep them warm and happy even on the long, hungry nights.
But the past was the past, and no matter how much she wished for it, it would never become the present.
Taking a deep breath to push away the tears at the back of her eyes, she decided to walk a bit. But ten minutes into her little exercise, she felt a cold touch drop on her head, and in less than a minute, the sky grew dark with pregnant clouds.
Then, just as unexpectedly as its arrival, the rain started—heavy and cold.
Unable to get a ride in the face of the incoming storm, Lyra scrambled for shelter and somehow found herself in a store. There were a few other people seeking shelter there too.
Feeling a bit hungry, she grabbed a snack and approached the counter, but her card refused to read no matter how much she tried.
Just when she was about to give up, someone handed over a $100 bill with a pack of cigarettes under it to the salesman.
"Cover her cost too and keep the change."
Lyra turned to her savior, words of gratitude already building in her mouth, but it turned out to be someone she knew, one of the interviewers from that gaming company.
Watching him walk away, she felt a sudden urge and couldn't hold herself back from calling out,
"Mr. Rhett!"
Of course, she knew his name, it was written on a tag in front of them when she was interviewed.
The Man stopped in his tracks then turned around, a confused look on his face.
Walking up to him, she smiled " Mr Rhett I was one of the individuals you interviewed today"
"Ah I remember you....miss Vox right."
"Eh...it's Voss sir."
"Yeah...the lady with a degree in computer science but no affiliate training course in artificial Intelligence."
"Yeah sir... about that." Lyra stuttered abashedly.
"If you are trying to change the results of the interview, am sorry but it's impossible." Mr Rhett interrupted waving his hands and turning to leave.
"Wait a minute sir am just....." Clutching at straws Lyra ran after him trying to get his attention unsuccessfully.
"Mr Rhett..a-am just a young graduate, smart, ready and eager to learn, I'll do anything, I can learn anything...I just really need this job, M-my... Family...needs this job." Feeling extremely stressed and choked up, she broke down, the weight of her problems crushing down on her. A lone tear slid down her cheeks but she hastily wiped it way.
Empathetic, the man stopped then turned to face her, a hint of helplessness in his posture.
" Look I really can't change the results of the interview but I can give you another job.. the thing is that, it's far riskier, but certainly more lucrative."
Hearing his words, the initially excited Lyra cooled down instantly.
'Risky? Is it something illegal or shady...like selling my-body' her blood ran cold at her thoughts.
Unaware of her thoughts but clearly seeing her hesitation, Mr Rhett sighed then walked up to her stuffing something in her hands"Think about it first, here's my card, give me a call when you're ready." And with that he walked away.
Clutching unto the card Lyra sighed and looked through the window. the dark clouds mirroring her heart.
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After thinking and tossing for days with no yield from her job search.
On the fifth day since their meeting, Lyra called the number on the card her heart beating nervously.
"Hello is this Mr Rhett? it's Lyra Voss.... Am ready."