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A failure.
“Josie...”
I’m brought back to reality by my manager. I look up. Amanda is staring at me. She nods at the waiting customer in front of me.
God, I was really, really lost in the clouds just then.
“Sorry,” I mutter to the customer. “What would you like?”
There’s a point at the menu from the customer. A transaction. Pleasantries exchanged.
And my mind remains totally blank.
“What is wrong, Josie?” Amanda asks me once we’ve handed the customer their almond croissant in her dry, sarcastic humor. “You’ve been totally out of it today. I might even have to give you disciplinary for your performance.”
The bank...
The rejection...
It’s all so... crushing.
“I’m fine,” I lie to her. “All fine.”
My manager is not taking the deception. She squints at me with her arms crossed.
But she knows there must be something really troubling me. She’s not going to push, though. She’s a good boss.
“Take a break whenever you want,” she tells me quietly. “Okay? Make sure you’re sorted out whatever it is you need to sort out.”
There is nothing I can sort out. That’s the problem.
“Thanks,” I reply. “I’ll be fine, though.”
I’m scratching my nails. Amanda walks to the back office and leaves me by myself. It’s past lunchtime and so the coffee shop is practically deserted, leaving me standing lonely at the counter with only my mind replaying the events at the bank this morning over and over and over again.
My nails are starting to bleed from the incessant scratching.
I don’t know what to feel. I’m cold. My mind is racing, but I’m not thinking straight. I feel sweat on my back...
“Good morning.”
Another customer. And I am once again brought straight back into reality.
“What can I do for you today?” I ask, looking up at the new patron.
Wait.
No.
Is it?
It takes me a moment.
Yeah, it is him.
It’s Victor standing in front of me, but he’s not himself - he’s wearing a big prosthetic nose and beard. And he’s wearing a baseball cap. It looks so ridiculous. I can’t believe it.
Is he wearing a fancy dress?
