Chapter 4 — A New Job, A New Fear
The morning sunlight was filtering softly through the curtains.
I was sitting at the small kitchen table, Ryo was in my lap, and with my small hand I was feeding him his breakfast.
His other hand was clinging to mine as if he were holding on to me—holding me to the world I had fought so hard to survive in.
I looked at the letter again.
Kang Industries — Junior Administrative Staff.
The salary wasn't high enough to change our lives.
But it was enough to get by.
Enough to make sure Ryo had food, clothes, and safety.
And still… I couldn't stop the trembling in my stomach.
The thought of leaving him—even for a few hours—tightened my chest.
I had done it before, when he was a baby and I had to step out for necessities.
But this… this was different.
I would have to face strangers, a massive office, and responsibilities I wasn't sure I could handle.
I would have to pretend I belonged in a place where I had no experience living.
I ran my hand through Ryo's soft hair.
"You'll be okay," I whispered—more to myself than to him.
"You'll be fine. Mom will handle everything, and everything will be okay."
Ryo lowered his head and looked up at me, blinking.
"Will they treat me well, Mom?"
I laughed softly.
"They don't even know you, you little troublemaker. But don't worry. You're not going anywhere without me."
I carefully packed my bag, checking everything twice—lunch, extra clothes for him, emergency wipes.
Six years.
For six years, I had learned how to survive.
And now, I had to add something new to it: a career, a life outside these four walls, and the hope that I wasn't making a mistake.
The elevator ride down to the street felt longer than usual.
The city looked the same, yet I felt like a stranger.
Every passerby seemed so sure of where they were going, what they were doing…
And I was just a woman carrying a child she didn't fully understand, stepping into a world that could judge her in an instant.
At the corner, I stopped.
I thought about my apartment, about Ryo who would be sleeping in his crib while I was gone.
A wave of guilt ran through me.
I knew it was irrational.
I knew leaving him for a few hours wasn't abandoning him.
And yet… the fear was real.
I took a deep breath.
"Alright, Sizu," I said softly, "you've survived worse situations than this. You can do this."
The taxi ride felt endless.
I rested my hand on Ryo's small lap, holding him tightly.
His head was against my shoulder, his eyes full of curiosity and trust.
Finally, the building stood before us.
Glass towers—clean, intimidating.
I nervously adjusted the strap of my bag.
As soon as I stepped inside, the receptionist smiled—polite and professional.
I gave my name.
"Miss Sizu Kim? Welcome to Kang Industries. The interview room is on the third floor."
Inside the elevator, silence hung heavy except for the soft hum of the machinery and Ryo's quiet breaths.
I looked down at the city—fast, endless, and mesmerizing.
With every floor, my heart beat faster.
Finally, the doors opened.
I stepped into a bright, modern office.
The smell of coffee and paper.
The hum (voice)of computers.
Low conversations between strangers who all seemed confident in their work.
And me?
I didn't belong here.
Not yet.
I adjusted my bag, straightened my back, and said softly one last time to Ryo, who was watching my every movement with wide curiosity:
"I'll manage, little one. Just… stay with me."
He nodded seriously, as if he understood everything.
And maybe he did.
I didn't know what awaited me inside that building—what challenges, which strangers, or what my future would be.
But I knew this much:
I would have to be brave.
For him.
And that… was enough.
— To be continued