7. Sally

The sound of my name said angrily roots my feet into place as the manager of the club approaches me. Mr. Lorn’s expression is one of professional regret that twists my stomach anxiously, then makes it lurch as I catch sight of Aurelius standing not too far behind him, a smug, self-satisfied smirk on his arrogant face.

Mr. Lorn strides forward with purpose, carrying an envelope in one hand while the other sways at his side, clenched into a fist. Stopping in front of me, he thrusts the envelope forward.

“You can’t work here anymore,” he states simply, leaving no room for questions or arguments.

Not thinking, I lift my hand and watch as he sets the envelope on my palm, the weight of the paper inside belying the gravity of the situation. I peer inside, taking in the sight of the crisp bills. They are a cold, biting comfort for the job I so desperately needed.

I glance up at Mr. Lorn, his face full of pity, then shift my attention to Aurelius, knowing this is his doing. Of course. It’s just like a rich prick to throw a fit when he doesn’t get his way.

I feel my cheeks burning with humiliation once more as I clutch the envelope tightly in my hand. I can”t help but feel like a failure. Like I”ve let my family down.

”Why... Why is this happening?” I manage to ask, my voice trembling with barely contained emotion. I know why, I just don”t want to admit it.

Mr. Lorn sighs and looks away, unable to meet my gaze. ”I”m sorry, Sally. It”s nothing personal. It”s just... Aurelius is an important member. And he”s made it clear that he doesn”t want you working here anymore.”

I can feel my anger rising.

”And you”re just going to let him dictate who can and can”t work here?” I demand, my voice growing louder. I can”t believe that they”re willing to throw me under the bus just to keep one jerk happy.

Mr. Lorn”s expression softens, and he looks at me sympathetically. ”I understand how you feel, Sally. But this is a business. And sometimes we have to make tough decisions to keep our guests happy.”

I can”t believe what I”m hearing. I”ve worked hard to get where I am, and now it”s all being taken away because of some spoiled rich kid who can”t handle rejection.

But before I can say anything else, Aurelius steps forward, his smug grin still firmly in place. ”I”m glad to see you”re taking this so well, Sally,” he says, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

I can feel my anger boiling over, and I clench my fists at my sides.

The feeling of humiliation is overwhelming as I stand before Mr. Lorn, Aurelius, and my coworkers. I can feel their eyes on me, full of pity and judgment, but no one says a word.

I try to keep my expression neutral, but I can feel the tears threatening to spill over. I don”t want to cry in front of them, especially not in front of Aurelius. But the envelope in my hand feels heavy, as if it”s filled with lead.

I clutch the envelope tightly, feeling the edges dig into my skin. I want to scream, to cry, to lash out at the injustice of it all. But I know it won”t do any good. I won”t give Aurelius the satisfaction of knowing how much this hurts.

Instead, I take a deep breath and square my shoulders. I refuse to let them see me break. I won”t let them see how much this is affecting me. I won”t let Aurelius win.

With a swift, decisive movement, I turn and walk away. I struggle to keep my shoulders up since they feel so heavy, weighed down by the loss of opportunity and the gnawing need for money. I can feel the eyes of my coworkers on me as I go, but I don”t look back.

I make my way to the locker room, my heart pounding in my chest. I need to get out of here before I break down completely. I quickly change out of my uniform, stuffing it into my bag along with the envelope.

As soon as I leave the club, I head straight to the hospital. My heart feels heavy with worry and guilt as I make my way through the sterile hallways. The fluorescent lights buzz overhead, casting a harsh glow on the white walls. I can hear the beeping of machines and the murmur of nurses as I walk, each sound a reminder of my father”s condition.

When I reach my mother”s side, I can see the exhaustion etched into her face. Her eyes are red and puffy, and there are dark circles underneath. She”s been here for hours, waiting for news on my father’s condition.

”Mom,” I say softly, holding out the envelope. ”I brought the money.”

She takes it from me, her eyes filling with tears. ”Oh, honey,” she says, her voice choked with emotion. ”Thank you.”

We both know it”s not enough. The medical expenses for my father’s treatment are staggering, and the operation he needs is urgent. The doctor”s words still ring in my ears, a constant reminder of the ticking clock.

I take a deep breath and force myself to stay calm. ”What”s the latest on Dad?” I ask, trying to keep my voice steady.

My mother”s expression turns grave. ”The doctor says the operation needs to happen as soon as possible,” she says. ”If we wait too long, it could be... too late.”

I feel a cold knot of fear in my stomach. I can”t lose my dad. He”s always been my rock, my source of strength. I can”t imagine a world without him.

”We”ll figure it out,” I say, trying to sound more confident than I feel. ”We”ll do whatever it takes to get him the help he needs.”

But even as I say the words, I can feel the guilt in my gut swelling until it”s almost unbearable. I should have been more careful at work. I should have found a way to keep my job, no matter what Aurelius said or did. I can feel my composure starting to crack, and I know I need to get out of there before I break down completely.

I make a quick excuse, telling my mother that I have to go to work, even though I know it”s a lie. The words taste bitter on my tongue, and I can feel the weight of my failure settling on my shoulders.

”I have to go, work calls,” I say, giving her a quick hug. ”I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

As I glance back at my mother, her teary eyes full of worry and fear, I know that I would do anything to help her and my dad.

As I make my way down the sterile halls of the hospital, I can”t help but wonder if I made a mistake by standing up to Aurelius. Maybe if I had just given him what he wanted, I could have kept my job and helped my mother pay for my father’s medical expenses.

But then I remember the way he looked at me like I was nothing more than a piece of meat to be used and discarded. And I know that I couldn”t have done it. I couldn”t have sold myself out like that, not even for my family.

I take a deep breath and think. I need to find a job, and fast. I can”t let my family down, not when they need me the most.

As I step outside into the rain, I feel a sense of despair wash over me. Where am I going to find a job that pays as well as the golf club? It feels so impossible, and I can”t help but feel overwhelmed by the mounting troubles in my life.

The rain is cold and relentless, pelting down on me as I make my way home. But I barely notice it, lost in my thoughts.

I allow myself a moment to grieve, to let the tears flow freely down my cheeks, disguised as raindrops. I can feel the weight of everything pressing down on me, and it”s almost too much to bear.

But then I take a deep breath and force myself to focus. I can”t give up, not now. I need to find a way to make this work, to find a job that will help me support my family.

I know that I need to find a job, and fast. But where do I even start? I could try looking online, but the job market is so competitive these days. I need something that pays well, and I need it soon.

As I walk, I start to brainstorm ideas. Maybe I could try reaching out to my network, asking friends and family if they know of any job openings. Or maybe I could try temp agencies, seeing if they have any short-term assignments that could tide me over until I find something more permanent.

But even as I think about these options, I can”t shake the feeling of dread that”s settled in my stomach. What if I can”t find anything? What if I”m forced to take a job that pays barely enough to cover my expenses?

With each step through the rain, my mind races with the question that has no easy answer. What should I do now?