The morning light streamed through the curtains, pale and cold.
Sasha sat at the edge of Stella's bed, her hands trembling slightly as she smoothed out the blouse she'd borrowed from her friend. Her eyes were puffy from the night before, but she didn't say much-just got dressed in silence, trying not to think about Xavier's face when he told her she meant nothing.
Stella emerged from the bathroom, a towel in her hand and sleep still in her voice.
"You sure you wanna go in today? I mean... after everything-"
"I have to," Sasha said quietly, buttoning the last part of her shirt. "I still need this job. I can't just... fall apart."
But as she reached for her phone to check the time, a new notification blinked on her screen.
Email from: HR Department, Blackwood Corporation
Subject: Term
