Lilian.
"Oh my God, I'm so sorry," I gasped as the hot tea slipped from my hands and splashed all over a customer's shirt. My heart pounded in my chest so loudly I could barely hear the man's angry outburst. All I could hear was the voice of my manager in my head saying, "one more screw up and you're fired." I fumbled with the napkin, while trying to calm the man down, but he shoved me off. His voice was harsh and humiliating. "What's going on here?" the manager asked rushing towards the scene, I could see the disappointment in his eyes the moment he saw me. "Your incompetent waiter just spilled tea all over my shirt, how am I supposed to attend my meeting looking like this? Is this the kind of staff you employ here?" I froze in embarrassment, my eyes glued to the ground "I'm really sorry sir" I whispered, hoping an apology would somehow just fix everything. "It won't happen again, "the manager cut in coldly, "because she's now fired." He stressed the fired like as if it was meant to pierce right through me. I fell straight to his feet, tears rolling down my cheeks uncontrollably. "Please sir, don't do this. I have bills to pay, just give me one more chance, I promise it won't happen again." I said in cracked voice. But he only sneered and said "maybe if you were paid for each time, you were clumsy, you'd be able to afford those bills. Make sure you turn in your badge at the reception before leaving." Then he walked back into his office, leaving me broken on the floor. The customer left in disgust, muttering about his ruined shirt and the meeting. But his anger didn't matter anymore as my manager's decision had been made. My hands shook as I unclipped and turned in my badge at the receptionist desk. As I set it down, the receptionist grabbed my hand, looked at me with sympathy. "You don't deserve this, Lilian. Of all the employees here, you've always been the most hardworking." Those words calmed my heart. It even pierced deeper than the manager's cruelty. I hadn't realized that anyone had noticed my hard work, that it meant something to someone. I wiped my tears, sniffled and forced a light smile "what's done is done." I whispered to her and left the restaurant. The place I had given so much to and got nothing but pain and humiliation.
At my apartment door, I ran into my neighbour Mrs Powells. She noticed I was carrying a long face. "Hey Lilian, rough day?" I nodded in response, "would you like to talk about it?" she asked with remorse, but I didn't respond. I was struggling to open my apartment door, which always gives me trouble every time I try. I kicked the door out of frustration, and it finally opened. Mrs Powells was staring at me while I was battling with my door, feeling sorry for me she said, "you should call the landlord to get someone to come check this door out," I sighed and nodded in response then went into my apartment. She was right but knowing the landlord as a cunning man he's going to make me pay for the damages, and right now I just can't afford it. I took off my jacket, jumped straight into my bed and covered myself with the sheets. I was a on the verge crying when my phone rang. It was Maya, my best friend, so I picked it up. She started talking about her date with the new guy she just met, but my silence quickly told her something was wrong. "What's wrong boo?" she asked. Tears rushed down my cheeks "I got fired today." My voice cracked as I began explaining how much effort I put into that job and how I was seriously underpaid for it. "Oh my God bae, I'm so sorry that happened to you. It's so unfair, everyone gets clumsy occasionally," she said in a light tone trying to make me feel better. "Well not me, remember back in high school when everyone called me 'Clumsy Lily', my manager called me the queen of clumsy. He even told me if there was a wall of clumsy, I would be the only person on it." I sniffled while trying to catch my breath. "Well, everyone in middle school except for me, I stood by you then and I'll stand by you now." She said with so much pride. "You know what, how about I pay your old manager a visit?" Maya asked but I was lost in thoughts. I was thinking about what the receptionist said to me while I handed in my badge. "Hello, earth to Lily". Hearing her call me Lily brought me back to reality; she was the only one the only person who calls me that. "What's on your mind girl?" she asked. "You know someone noticed my hard work. The receptionist" I said with a little smile on my face. I felt little comfort every time I thought about those words because for the first time ever someone who I wasn't close to, didn't see me for just being clumsy. "That's a sign that things will get better for you, trust me." Hearing those words from Maya really made me feel better. "I'm really glad you called Maya; you're a good friend". "No, I'm your best friend" she corrected me playfully and we laughed. We had been talking for so long, we lost track of time. "Oh my God, its past midnight, I have an early shift at work tomorrow." Maya said. The line went silent for a while, I guessed she stepped out to do something. I heard her come back in over the phone "Lily I'd really love to stay and talk but I have an early shift tomorrow. Remember, don't let your little slip ups bring you down forever. You need to get back on your feet and keep going." Those words from Maya were soothing to hear. "Goodnight Lily", "goodnight, Maya", I responded softly. As she hung up the phone, the room fell into a heavy silence. I lay in bed watching the curtains sway with the wind until I drifted off to sleep.