The morning felt endless, moving painfully slowly. I was drained, every step and task felt heavy and exhausting before I had even gotten to work. I barely managed to make it through, with the train ride passing by in a haze. When I reached the office, the lights felt too harsh, and the early bustle was overwhelming.
Less than a week. That was all that stood between me and my first paycheck. The thought alone should have been enough to jolt some energy into my system. It was the moment I had been waiting for—the moment things would finally start shifting in my favor.
But right now? All I could focus on was how my eyelids felt like they weighed a thousand pounds and how desperately I needed coffee strong enough to bring me back to life.
I slumped into my chair as I finally got to my offi
