Chapter 3
1486 Words
Joy was a young Black man, 30 years old. He struggled with his weight, which had turned into obesity. This had been part of his life since childhood, especially after he lost his mother. On top of that, he never had many opportunities, and things felt even worse because he had never known his father. His mother had always hidden that truth. He asked about his father for many years, but never got an answer.
After his mother died, he stayed in an orphanage until he was adopted by a white couple. He lived with them for some time, but ended up returning to the orphanage after losing his adoptive parents in a car accident.
He didn’t stay long after that. Once he came of age, he left the orphanage and started working as a mechanic. Later, after losing his job at a large company, he bought a farm.
Joy walked through the woods without knowing what he was looking for. His chest rose and fell with a fear so intense it seemed to overflow from inside him. Suddenly, he saw a wolf near a woman with an extremely beautiful body. The growl of the wolf made him wake up in shock.
Back in his quiet life, he remained a man full of dreams. His main dream was to work in a well-known company related to cars, since he was a mechanic. He did small jobs, but he didn’t earn enough to continue his studies.
He got out of bed. The door creaked when he pushed it open. He went outside to take care of his animals: cattle and birds. Then he left before the sun grew strong.
He started running.
The first meters were easy. His body was still cold, obedient. His legs responded without much effort. But it didn’t take long. He started getting tired as if he had already run twice that distance, just like always. His breathing became heavy. His chest rose and fell hard, uneven. Even so, he didn’t stop.
The road was dirt, full of small traps. Loose stones, hidden holes, dried tire marks. Fine dust rose with each step, sticking to his sweaty skin. He avoided what he could, stumbled when he didn’t see, and forced himself back into rhythm. He sweated too early, as always.
"I won’t stop… not today…" he muttered through his teeth, more to his body than to himself.
A group of men sat by the roadside, leaning against old logs, wasting time.
"Hey, Joy! Still running?" one of them shouted with a crooked smile.
Joy raised his hand without slowing down. He had no time to talk.
His backpack hit his back with every step, steady and constant. Inside were the same papers as always. Nothing impressive. But it was what he had.
When he reached the transport stop, he was already out of breath. He bent forward, hands on his knees, struggling to pull in air. Sweat ran down his face and neck, dripping onto the dry ground.
A bus stopped with a sudden jerk, raising more dust.
"City! City! Last seats!"
Joy straightened up quickly and got in before someone else took the spot. He sat squeezed between two people. Shoulder to shoulder. The smell of sweat, fuel, and dust mixed into heavy air. He was used to this reality.
He took the envelope out of his backpack. He ran his hand over it slowly, as if it were more than paper. As if it were a real chance, even though it almost never was.
The bus started moving.
During the ride, he stayed quiet, looking out the window. Houses passed too fast to remember. People walking in a hurry. Children running barefoot, shouting, living at a different rhythm.
Three years.
Three years going back and forth on that same path.
Three years hearing the same answers, with different words but the same meaning: we will call, no vacancy, lack of experience.
He tightened his grip on the envelope.
"Not today… today won’t be the same."
But the words didn’t come out with the certainty he wanted.
The sun was already high when he got off in the city. The sound of cars was constant, engines rumbling, voices mixing with hurried footsteps. Joy started walking fast.
First company.
A small building with peeling paint, revealing older layers underneath. A glass door marked with fingerprints.
He entered. A woman sat behind a desk, working on a computer. She didn’t even look up.
"Good morning… I’m looking for a job…"
"Leave your resume," she said without looking.
"I already did… last week…"
She finally looked at him, quickly, impatient.
"Then wait for a response."
"I just wanted to know if…"
"Next."
He stood still for a second, taking it in, then nodded.
"Thank you."
He left.
Second attempt.
A small shop, filled with products stacked in a messy way.
"I’m looking for a job."
The man behind the counter looked up briefly, scanning him from head to toe.
"We already filled the positions."
"Even for any role?"
"I said we already filled them."
Joy nodded again.
He left.
He took a deep breath, but the air felt too hot to help.
The sun was heavy now. Joy was soaked in sweat.
Third.
Fourth.
Fifth.
The answers started to blend. Short. Cold. Eyes that didn’t stay on him. He could hear doors closing in his ears again and again.
In one place, they didn’t even let him in.
"Only with appointment."
"But I…"
"Next!"
Joy stopped in a corner. He leaned against a warm wall. Closed his eyes for a moment, trying to steady his thoughts.
He took out his phone. Hesitated. Then called.
"Hello?" her voice came quickly, alert.
"Valeria…"
"Joy? Did you arrive?"
"Yes… I’m here."
"And?"
He paused. Looked at the ground, at his worn shoes.
"Nothing yet."
Silence on the other side.
"How many places have you tried?"
"I don’t know… five… six…"
"Keep going."
"I’m trying."
"I know you are."
He let out a long breath.
"I used the money you gave me for transport… I still have enough to go back."
"Don’t worry about that."
"I will pay you back."
"Joy…"
He stayed silent.
"I didn’t lend it to pressure you. I did it because I believe in you."
He closed his eyes again, taking that in.
"I know."
"Then keep going. Go all the way today."
"I will."
"Promise?"
"I promise."
She took a deep breath on the other side.
"When you’re done, call me. No matter the result."
"Okay."
"And Joy…"
"Hm?"
"Don’t bow your head to anyone."
He nodded, even though she couldn’t see him.
"I won’t."
The call ended. He stayed there for a few more seconds. Then he stepped away from the wall and started walking again.
On the way, he met Lebron, sitting on a step with a bottle of water.
"Hey! Look who decided to show up in the big city," Lebron said, standing up.
Joy gave a slight smile, tired but still moving.
"You still fighting?"
"Always."
They shook hands firmly.
"So? Did you find anything?" Lebron asked.
"Nothing yet."
"And you?"
"Nothing either."
They stood in silence for a moment.
"One day this changes," Lebron said, looking ahead, serious.
Joy nodded.
"It has to."
"We didn’t come this far to stay like this."
"No, we didn’t."
Lebron pointed at the envelope in Joy’s hand.
"You still have that?"
"Always."
"Then it’s not over."
Joy let out a small laugh, without humor.
"It never ends."
Lebron stepped closer, lowering his voice.
"Listen… I heard about a new company… big one… they’re hiring."
Joy looked up, alert now.
"Where?"
"Business district… up there. Rich family… Montgomery."
Joy frowned.
"I’ve never heard of it."
"Neither have I. But they say it’s big. And when it’s big, it needs people."
Joy stayed quiet, thinking.
"I’ll go."
Lebron nodded.
"Go. It can’t get worse than this."
"True."
They faced each other for a moment.
"One day we’ll laugh about all this," Lebron said.
Joy looked at him, firm.
"No. One day we’ll beat all of this."
Lebron smiled.
"Even better."
They said goodbye.
Joy turned.
And started walking.
The path to the business district was longer than it looked. And more revealing.
The scenery changed slowly, like a line between two worlds. The streets became cleaner. Sidewalks more organized. Buildings taller, better maintained. Cars more expensive, quieter.
The backpack was still on his back, heavier than just papers. The envelope was firm in his hand, slightly wrinkled with sweat.
When he arrived, he stopped.
The building was large. Imposing. Glass reflecting the sun so strongly it almost blinded him. A wide, organized entrance. Security at the door, alert.
Joy took a deep breath. He looked at himself. Simple clothes. Sweaty. Tired. Real.
Then he looked forward again.
"It’s here."
He straightened his shoulders.
Tightened his grip on the envelope.
And walked toward the Montgomery company.
- Writer
