JULIAN'S POV
I sipped my morning coffee as I contemplated the looming uncertainty ahead of me. My job interviews had been numerous, but the callbacks were disappointingly scarce. Living in Staten Island was a double-edged sword. It was affordable, but the commute to Manhattan, where most job opportunities lay, was a daily ordeal.
I knew the odds were stacked against me, but giving up had never been an option.
Just as I was about to dive into another day of job applications and interviews, my phone rang, startling me. The caller ID displayed an unfamiliar number with a Manhattan area code. My heart raced as I answered the call.
"Hello?" I said, trying to keep my voice steady.
"Is this Julian Moyes?" a professional voice on the other end asked.
"Yes, it is," I replied, suddenly acutely
