Anna
“We need to talk,” he said in a grave tone.
For a split second, the words seemed to echo in the room, heavy and unavoidable, settling into the silence between us like something final. My heart dropped straight to my stomach, and I felt that familiar rush of panic crawl up my spine.
I am getting fired. I know it. I can feel it.
The thought didn’t come as a shock this time. It felt inevitable, like something that had been building all morning, ever since I walked into his office and spoke out of turn. My chest tightened, but I forced myself to breathe through it, slowly, deliberately, like I had learned to do when things felt like they were slipping out of my control.
Okay. Deep breath. I can handle this.
The room suddenly felt smaller, the air thicker. Sunlight streamed in throug
