SELECTED
1175 Words
Chapter 5
The walk home felt heavy than before.
Tara’s steps were slow, her mind replaying every second of the interview like a broken record. Did I say too much, was I sounding desperate or was I too honest? She exhaled shakily.
It over now there was nothing else she could do no way to change anything. By the time she reached home the sky had begun to darken and she pushed the door open quietly.
The small apartment looks the same as always but today it felt even smaller like the walls were closing in.
“You’re back!” Sofia said quickly standing up from the corner, her mother looked up too her eyes filled with silent questions.
Tara forced a smile “How did it go?” Serah asked softly.
Tara hesitated then shrugged slightly.
“I… don’t know” Jackson scoffed from where he was leaning against the wall “That means bad.”
Tara shot him a look but didn’t respond “I did my best” she said setting her bag down “That’s all I can say.”
Her mother nodded gently. “That’s enough.”
But Tara could see it the worry and fear in her mother’s eyes.
Night came quickly. Dinner was quiet Ken sat beside her eating slowly occasionally glancing up at her like he was trying to understand something he couldn’t quite name.
Tara ruffled his hair gently “I’m okay,” she whispered. He didn’t look convinced.
Later that night the apartment fell into silence everyone is asleep.
Tara sat alone on the edge of her bed, her phone resting in her hands.
Dark screen.
No notifications her eyes burned from staring at it for too long, they said, they will call.
But when?
Tomorrow?
Next week?
Or never?
Her grip tightened.
“I need this,” she whispered into the quiet room, a soft sound came from behind her.
“Mommy?” Tara turned.
Ken stood in the doorway, rubbing his eyes.
“You’re still awake?”
She smiled faintly “Couldn’t sleep.”
He walked over and climbed onto the bed beside her curling into her side.
“Did you get the job?”
The question was simple. But it hit like a weight.
“I don’t know yet,” she admitted softly.
He looked up at her “You will.”
Tara blinked “What makes you so sure?”
Ken shrugged slightly “Because you always fix things.”
If only it were that easy.
She kissed his forehead gently. “Go to sleep.”
“Okay,” he murmured already drifting off.
Tara watched him for a moment.
Then looked back at her phone.
Still nothing.
She lay down slowly pulling Ken closer and finally exhaustion took over.
The sharp sound of her phone ringing cut through the morning silence Tara’s eyes snapped open.
For a second she didn’t move.
Didn’t breathe.
Then it rang again.
Her heart started pounding she grabbed it quickly her hands trembling slightly as she stared at the screen.
Unknown number.
Her breath caught.
She hesitated for just a second then answered.
“Hello?”
“Tara?”
The voice was professional.
Her chest tightened.
“Yes, this is Tara speaking.”
A brief pause.
“Good morning, we are calling from Crestline Apex Group regarding your interview yesterday.”
Her grip tightened around the phone.
Her entire body went still “Yes,” she whispered.
“We’d like to inform you that your application has been successful.”
Silence.
The words didn’t register immediately.
Her mind struggled to catch up.
“Successful?” she repeated faintly.
“You’ve been selected for the position.”
Everything stopped.
Her breath.
Her thoughts.
Time itself.
“I” Her voice shook. “I got the job?”
“Yes, congratulations.”
For a moment, Tara couldn’t speak.
Couldn’t move her vision blurred as emotion rushed through her all at once. Relief.
She pressed her free hand against her mouth trying to steady herself.
“Thank you,” she whispered “Thank you so much.”
“You’re welcome. We’ll be sending further details shortly.”
“Yes… yes, of course.”
The call ended.
Tara lowered the phone slowly.
And then a breathless laugh escaped her lips as tears rolled down her cheeks.
“I got it…” she whispered.
Her voice cracked.
“I got it.”
“Tara?”
She turned.
Her mother stood in the doorway eyes filled with concern.
“What happened?”
Tara stood up quickly.
“I got the job.”
“What?” Sofia gasped.
“I got it,” Tara repeated, her smile breaking through her tears now. “They hired me.”
Her mother’s hand flew to her mouth.
“Oh my God”
Sofia rushed forward, pulling Tara into a tight hug “I knew it! I knew you could do it!”
Even Jackson straightened, surprise flickering across his face.
“Seriously?” he asked.
Tara nodded, still overwhelmed “Yes.”
For the first time in days hope filled the room her mother moved closer her eyes shining. “Thank God… Thank God.”
She pulled Tara into a gentle embrace.
“We’ll be okay,” she whispered.
Tara held onto her tightly.
For the first time since everything fell apart it felt like they might actually survive this.
After the celebration Sofia insisted on making tea. Ken danced around happily, not fully understanding but excited anyway.
“Mommy got the job!” he repeated proudly.
Tara laughed softly, pulling him into her arms.
“Yes, I did.”
His tiny arms wrapped around her neck“I told you,” he said.
She smiled against his hair “You did.”
Even Jackson seemed quieter as if for once something had gone right.
Tara sat down slowly, her heart still racing from everything settled into her bones. Maybe this was it, maybe this was their turning point maybe things would finally get better.
Her phone buzzed again.
She glanced at it.
A message.
From the company.
Her heart skipped she opened it quickly.
Details.
Start date.
Instructions.
And then her eyes landed on the final line, her breath caught her fingers tightened around the phone.
“What is it?” Sofia asked.
Tara didn’t respond immediately she just stared at the screen.
Reading it again and again.
As if hoping it would change It didn’t.
She lifted her head and her expression shifted from relief to something else.
Something uncertain “They said” she started her voice quieter now. Everyone looked at her.
“They said I’ll be working directly with the CEO” the words hung heavy in the air.
“And…” Tara swallowed.
Her heart began to pound again.
“I start tomorrow.”
The room went still it felt like the beginning of something much bigger than just a job. And deep down a quiet unfamiliar feeling stirred in her chest like a warning or fate closing in.
- Writer
