"Why is it so hard to get a job? Why???" Tania groaned, collapsing onto her bed.
She reached for her phone and dialed her best friend, Emma.
"Sorry, the number you dialed is currently not reachable…"
"Shit!" she hissed and flung the phone to the foot of the bed.
She curled into herself, muttering softly, "It's going to be fine, girl. It's gonna be alright. God is in control; His timing is the best."
She patted her own shoulder, half-crying, half-laughing. A mess. A hopeful mess.
Then, her phone rang.
She sprang up, grabbed it like a lifeline.
"Emma," she whispered, her voice cracking as she clutched the phone. "Today didn't go well."
"Why do strange things keep happening when I'm close to being happy? It's always like… like a cutoff joy."
"Baby, listen to me," Emma said gently. "You're overwhelmed, I get it. But why don't you just leave it to God to handle, huh? I know what you're about to say, but girl… what happened? I know today was your final interview. I called to check in."
Tania sniffled, rubbing her nose. "Forget that interview."
"Girl! I thought you were crying a second ago!"
"I wasn't crying because of the interview," Tania said, her voice low. "I was just mad. I shouldn't have quit my last job. But that boss? Nah. I couldn't do it anymore. Thank God I moved, had two years break, but now I'm bored and broke, it is so depressing."
Emma chuckled. "Tania," she called and continued, "So, tell me, what happened at HQ?"
"Gravitas? Pfft. First, I was late, four minutes late, thanks to that crazy rain. Then during the panel, I got this weird vibe. There was this man at the corner of the room. I didn't see him at the first interview. He was just sitting there, quiet… watching. Just staring."
"Creepy?"
"No. Not creepy. Intense. Like I said something wrong. And I challenged one of their interview questions, said their internal comms strategy needed restructuring. The room froze. Except him. He… smiled."
"Wait, smiled?"
"Yeah. Like he was enjoying it. But the others looked annoyed. He could be the janitor, or the CEO. Uh, whatever."
Emma chuckled. "Only you would sass the CEO of Gravitas Corp during an interview."
"Girl, it wasn't sass. It was professional honesty."
"Okay, Miss Professional Honesty. We move. God's got you."
"Amen." Tania sighed. Her voice lowered to a whisper.
"Emma, I miss Derrick, I wish he was still around… I just miss him today."
"She misses her crush," Emma teased.
"Girl, shut up," they both laughed at it.
"I just need a miracle." Tania said, staring at the ceiling like it might blink back with answers.
The line went quiet. Then Emma said softly, "Maybe it's already on the way."
"I doubt it," Tania replied with a weak laugh. "All I ever get are rejection emails and false hope. I'm tired of being almost there."
"God's delays aren't His denials, babe."
"Yeah, well… if He's listening, now would be a really good time to show up."
She exhaled deeply. "When will you be back?"
"You miss me?" Emma teased.
"No. I don't."
"Liar. I'll be back Monday. I'll come straight to your place from the airport."
"Whatever. Bye. Take care of yourself."
She ended the call, a faint smile on her lips.
She lay back on the bed, eyes heavy. Just a second to rest.