A taste of Relief

Her last look still haunts me.
I wish I was more, for her. Could be more, for her. Could do more, for her.

But there's nothing I can do to change things.

I've been out of a job for the past two years. Attended a lot of job interviews within the span of these two years but the results have always been 'We're sorry to inform you but you were not shortlisted'.

Living as a jobless man is the one of the saddest things to experience. Mom is always offering to send me food and house items. My siblings. I can feel our bonds slipping away day by day as I haven't been able to help financially any more. I can even feel the hope beginning to slip from Lara, my wife.

Lara was never one to lose faith so easily and that was one of her traits that endeared me to her. Seeing her look tired so early in the morning did something to me. The nature of her job is tasking and with me being jobless, there's little to no hope for us.

I stared at the gigantic building in front of me, bracing myself for whatever today's outcome may be - positive or negative. An outcome that may give me the chance to afford Lara everything she deserves and more.

Walking in, briefcase in one hand, shoe neatly polished, tie in place and ensuring my shirt is neatly tucked in, I head towards a lady sitting behind a desk at the lobby entrance. A lady who I believe is the receptionist. A lady whose gaze is fixated on the computer before her.

'Good morning. I am Mr. William Anderson. I am here for an interview scheduled for 10am today' I say to her.

'Hello, Mr William. It's a pleasure to meet you. Please, wait a minute.' She says with a smile that was meant to be welcoming but does little to calm my fraying nerves and she picks up the telephone next to her and speaks into it. 'Mr. William Anderson is here for his interview Sir. I'll send him in.'

'Please, have a seat, Mr Williams. Someone will be here to take you in shortly' She says, addressing me.

'Alright' I take a sit on one of the waiting chairs at one end of the room. Although there were no creases on my pants, I still ran my palms through them. Just a way to deal with the nervousness.

'Mr. William, Joe here, will take you to the room. Please, come with him.'

Heart thumping in my chest, I stand. Making my way over to Joe and following closely behind him.
We make our way, in and out the elevator. On our left is a room with a view overlooking the city. Judging from the long table situated at the center, dividing the occupants into two sections with each facing the other, the room is designed specifically for interviews or interactive meetings.

Seated in the room, are four occupants on the other side of the table, backing the glass windows. And on the other side, there's one chair facing the city.

Following Joe's lead, we walk into the room. All four heads turn to look at me as I enter. The expression on their faces, grim.

'You're welcome Mr. Williams. Do have your seat'. The third one among them says, gesturing towards the empty seat across them.

'Thank you'

'Mr. Williams. You are among the few to get past the screening stage. To that, we say Congratulations.' The lady at the rear end, with glasses perched just above her nose bridge begins to say.

'Before the course of this interview, we want you to know that we are an intellect over paper-based quality company. So, we encourage you to bring forth your creativity, smartness and intellect during this interview and if eventually, you get to work for us.'

I don't know if it's the nerves or something else but with this statement, forms a lump in my throat. Nothing about the statement is enough to scare me but the expression on their faces amplifies the nerves. And being the only one under their scrutiny makes everything worse.

'So, Mr. Williams, what is it you believe is the reason why we should not hire you?'
I breathed with relief at this question. It was one I was prepa-
Wait?!
Did they just say not?!

My heart at this moment began racing. The first question they were about to ask me and this is it?

'The reason you should not hire me is because i would be the least useful person if the company's mission statement only serves as a tool for decoration. My ability to work autonomously in creating a swift and reliable platform for youths will serve as a vice and accelerate the company's growth to achieving it's vision'. I don't know where I had gotten the courage and the audacity to say all those words. I only remember opening my mouth to form an answer and these words began to fall.

The expressions on their faces have still remained the same. Not smiling. As they cast glances at each other, I can't help but feel unease. I probably said the wrong thing.

'Alright, Mr. Williams. We have come to the end of this interview. You will be notified of the status of this interview via text. You may take your leave'

I stared blankly at them. Did I say something so wrong that they decided to call off the interview?

For the past two jobless years of my life, this has to be the weirdest and most unsettling interview I ever attended.
With shaky feet, I begin to make my way across the hall. Down to the entrance. Just like all the others, I had failed this one again.

---

'Welcome home, my love'. Lara's voice breaks through the feeling of failure I had, wrapped around myself. Replacing it with her body as she envelopes me in a hug.
'I didn't expect you to be back so quickly'
I didn't expect myself to have failed so quickly.

'I made porridge. Your favourite. Do you want to eat now or bathe first.' If she notices the gloom on my face, she gives nothing away.
'I failed again, Lara. We can't keep doing this. You deserve more than I'll ever have to-'
'Shhh. I choose you. That's all that matters. We'll try again my love. Okay?' I manage nod in response because I can't tell her that the failure is wearing me down already.

I opt to take a shower first before settling to eat. The idea of eating doesn't seem interesting anymore and I really don't want to.

Every chiming of my phone has me reaching for it. Hoping for a miracle. And while in the shower, the phone chimes.

I have a feeling this message is not one of the regular ads I usually get. It's something different. I think of asking Lara to check who it is for me but no. There's no point in receiving whatever good news or bad news there is, secondhand.

Done with the showering process, I walk towards my phone on the bedpost. Tapping the screen, it comes to life.

1 new message from Finley Corp

Without stalling, I click on it.

Dear Mr. Williams Anderson. It is with great pleasure that we inform you that you made it. We request you to be present tomorrow so we can discuss further, the terms of your appointment.

Tears.
Warm tears begin to flow down my face as I take a sit on the bed. My head in my palms.

Finally.
I made it.

I wasn't expecting this. Not after the stunt they had pulled with that one question.

Relief floods my chest. A feeling I found a luxury these past two years.

I finally get a chance to be a man.
Give Lara everything she's worth.
Give Mom the comfort she deserves and not the other way round.
Be there for my siblings financially.

I never knew relief could feel this good.

---

Images were generated using meta.ai

Posted Using InLeo Alpha