Ava Morgan woke up to her alarm and groaned. She reached out to turn it off.
She sat on her small apartment bed in New York, rubbing her eyes as her mind drifted off to the unpaid bills in the kitchen.
How did I let it get this bad? Rent, utilities, credit card. Everything's long overdue.
She forced herself up and quickly refreshed for the day.
The apartment smelled faintly of leftover coffee, with the traffic noises creeping in through the thin walls.
She grabbed her laptop bag and phone, and took a quick sip of coffee as she stepped outside.
The streets of Manhattan buzzed on as usual with honking cars, rushing pedestrians, and the distant sounds of construction.
Ava thought for a while, I'm late again. My boss will have my head if I'm even a minute behind.
She stepped over the uneven pavement, dodging a cyclist moving through the crowd.
She nearly bumped into a man carrying a delivery box, muttering a quick apology, she hurried past.
Ava rushed into the busy office lobby of the public relations agency where she worked as she checked the time on her phone.
Her chest tightened. She was already ten minutes late.
Her colleagues glanced up as she hurried past, some nodded sympathetically while others hid their annoyance.
I can't keep messing up. If I lose this job, I won't be able to pay rent this month.
As she rushed to her desk, carrying files and her coffee, she accidentally knocked over a stack of client documents.
Panic rose in her chest as she hurried to organize them before anyone noticed.
Not now… please, not today.
She realized she had misfiled a critical client's campaign materials, a mistake which could cost the company a major account. Her hands trembled as she checked the documents again.
Just then her boss appeared, arms crossed, his stare... cold and unforgiving.
"Ava, we need to talk about the Kensington campaign."
Ava's stomach sank. She apologized quickly, trying to explain, but her words disappeared under his stern gaze.
Please… give me one more chance. I can fix this.
The office seemed to hold its breath as her boss shook his head, mentioning her repeated mistakes and failure to meet expectations.
Ava's heart dropped as he said the inevitable words: she was being let go.
"I'm sorry, Ava. We can't risk another mistake like this."
She nodded without a word, trying to hold back tears. She felt a mix of shame, panic, and disbelief.
The tapping of keyboards and quiet office voices now felt muted.
How am I going to survive without this job?
Ava stepped out of the office building into the late afternoon sun.
She wandered the busy streets, trying to process losing her job.
A bus sped past, splashing water, making her flinch. Vendors shouted as people brushed by.
She finally reached her apartment, drained and frustrated.
She dropped her bags onto the couch and slumped back, staring at the ceiling.
What am I supposed to do now? I can't ask my parents, they'd only lecture me.
She flipped through the overdue bills, counting how far behind she was.
Later that evening, Ava's parents arrived, worry written all over their faces.
They had come after her call, aware of her panic over bills and missed payments.
The smell of her mother's perfume mixed with leftover takeout, making the apartment feel warmer than it had all afternoon.
"Sweetheart, what happened at work?" her mother asked softly.
Ava hesitated, swallowing hard. She wasn't used to admitting failure out loud, especially not to her parents who had always believed she could handle things on her own.
Finally, she let the words out. She had been late, made mistakes, mismanaged a campaign, and was fired. The debts, the unpaid rent, the credit cards, everything spilled out at once.
I can't believe I'm admitting all this, but maybe they can help.
Her father touched her hand gently. "Ava, mistakes don't define you. You're bright and hardworking, you'll find your way again."
Her mother nodded, her expression reassuring. "Exactly. Opportunities are always there; you just need to be ready to notice them."
Ava bit her lip, a mix of relief and shame washing over her. She hadn't expected comfort, but their words eased some of the pressure on her chest.
Her mother leaned closer. "I just remembered an old friend from school. She was my classmate, and her husband knows your father. They have a responsible son. It might be time to reconnect. You never know what opportunities or connections could come from it."
An old family connection? How helpful will they be?
The idea lingered in Ava's mind, a small spark of hope in the middle of her current chaos. She nodded, trying to process it, while her parents exchanged quiet, but approving glances.
After her parents left, Ava sat on the couch as the city lights shined through the thin blinds. The distant traffic and car horns reminded her that life in New York never stopped, even if her own world had.
I don't want to rely on anyone, but I have no choice.
She ran a hand through her hair, thinking about the stack of unpaid bills on the counter, the unopened eviction notice, and the uncertainty of her next paycheck. Her heart raced as the weight of her situation sank in.
If Mom's friend can help, maybe I won't have to struggle. Maybe this is my chance to get back on track.
Her mind drifted again, imagining what reaching out to her mother's old friend could bring.
She imagined job offers, a steady income to ease her overdue bills, and the relief of not facing her problems alone.
The thought that someone familiar through her family might help gave her some hope she hadn't felt in weeks.
Ava pressed her hands to her forehead, as her heart raced. She didn't know what this connection might bring, but a glimmer of hope had sparked.
Somewhere out there, someone might
help. She just didn't know who yet.