Sara sat in front of her laptop again, Zayn curled beside her, snoring softly into the blanket. Her inbox flashed with unread messages, and her stomach tightened even before opening them.
"We regret to inform you… At this time, we have decided to move forward with other candidates…"
Each email felt like a door closing, one after another. She rested her forehead against the keyboard for a moment, her chest heavy. Zayn stirred beside her, and in that instant, she forced herself to sit up, wiping her eyes. She couldn't break. Not in front of him.
The days blurred into one another. She sent out resumes, sometimes waiting hours for replies that never came. Other times, she dragged herself to small interviews that ended with polite smiles and empty promises.
Currently, she was working at a nearby café as a part-time employee. It had been a week, and somehow she was managing both the job and taking care of Zayn. The pay wasn't enough to support the two of them comfortably, but doing something was better than doing nothing, and for Zayn, she would do anything. Lately, the manager had started hinting that she should stay overtime for "extra tips," making her increasingly uneasy.
By night, she whispered stories into Zayn's ears, watching his green eyes glow with joy. By morning, she wore her best clothes, clutched her CV, and stepped out with hope, only to come home with silence and by evening again go back to the cafe to do her part-time job..
Bills piled up on the corner of her desk. Her savings account dwindled. Every tick of the clock reminded her of the future she had promised her son, but had no idea how to deliver.
Still, she told herself the same thing every morning: One more chance. Just one more try.
One month later.
One month had passed, and Sara still hadn't found a stable job. The café owner had allowed her to bring Zayn along, as long as he didn't disturb the customers. Most of the time, she kept him in the staff room since his nap was in the evening. That way, he wouldn't bother her while she worked, and by the time he woke up, the café would be less crowded. She could then keep him by her side at the counter.
Occasionally, customers would admire her little boy, his cuteness, his giggles, and the baby talk he shared with his mother. At first, the café owner hadn't liked Sara that much, but day by day, he couldn't help but soften in the face of Zayn's charm.
That evening, Sara was washing dishes while her baby slept peacefully in the staff room. Her phone rang. It was Nora.
"Yes, Nora?"
"Babes! I have good news," Nora said, her voice bubbling with excitement. "I spoke with one of my contacts, who works at a Fortune company. They're looking for a marketing assistant. Right now, the position is temporary, but if your performance is good, they're offering a permanent role with a good hike. And the best part? They provide daycare centers for employees' children. You could work there and still see Zayn whenever you want!"
Sara's heart lifted. She felt, for the first time in a long while, that something good was about to happen in her messy life.
Without wasting a second, she said, "Yes, Nora. I'd love to… please ask them to schedule the interview. I'll give it my best."
"That's my babe!" Nora exclaimed. "I'll talk to him, and once it's set, you'll get a reply."
Sara smiled, feeling grateful. "Thanks so much, Nora."
"Don't thank me… I just love my friend," Nora said warmly.
After they hung up, Sara continued her work with renewed energy. An hour later, she received an email:
"Dear Candidate, We are interested in your profile. We'd like you to come in for an interview tomorrow at 10 a.m. sharp."
Excitement bubbled in her chest. She finished her shift quickly and headed back to her apartment with Zayn, eager to prepare for the interview and take this new opportunity head-on.
That night, she stayed awake, preparing for her interview, ironing her only formal dress, making sure Zayn's daycare would take him early. She kissed his forehead as he slept, whispering,
"Mumma will make it, baby. Just watch."
Next Day At the interview.
The next morning, she walked into the tall glass building, clutching her resume so tightly her knuckles went pale. She didn't notice at first, didn't even imagine, that fate had already taken its seat inside those very walls.
And when her name was called, and the door to the interview room opened…
Sara stepped into the interview room, her palms slightly damp despite the cool air inside. A man sat behind the desk, posture straight, confidence and years of experience radiating from him. He lifted his eyes as she entered.
"Please, have a seat," he gestured politely.
Sara sat down, trying to calm her racing heart. He skimmed through her resume, eyes sharp yet unreadable.
"You've had multiple job switches in the past two years," he said, finally looking up. "May I know the reason?"
Her fingers twitched in her lap. She drew in a steadying breath before answering truthfully."I'm a single mother, sir. I have a two-year-old son. The last couple of years were difficult; I had to juggle work and take care of him. Most jobs required me to leave him far away in daycare, and managing both became overwhelming at times."
The interviewer nodded slowly, thoughtful."And what if the same issue arises here? Will you be able to manage both responsibilities?"
Sara straightened her back, her voice firm despite the nervous flutter inside her."Yes, sir."
He raised an eyebrow. "And how exactly?"
A faint, hopeful smile touched her lips."My son is growing now. And I've heard this company provides daycare facilities for employees' children. That changes everything for me. Having him nearby would make it easier to balance both my work and being a mother."
His expression softened slightly. He leaned back in his chair, tapping the resume lightly with his pen."Alright. For now, this is a temporary position. We'll observe your performance for three months. If you don't meet our minimum expectations, you won't be considered for permanent employment."
Sara nodded eagerly. "Thank you, sir. I'll give my best."
"Good. I'm forwarding your resume because of your strong academic background and the projects you've handled. You'll need to clear two more rounds, a technical assessment, and an HR interview. Once you pass those, you can meet the director for your offer letter."
Relief and determination mixed in her chest as she smiled."Yes, sir. Thank you very much."
"You're welcome. All the best for your future." He gave a small, encouraging smile.
Sara nodded, stood up, and walked out of the cabin, her steps lighter than when she had walked in. For the first time in months, she felt a flicker of real hope.
It was nearly evening by the time Sara wrapped up her last round of interviews. She exhaled a long, shaky breath, relief flooding her chest when the panelist smiled.
"That was impressive, Miss Sara. We'll be happy to have you on board as a colleague," the HR said warmly.
Sara's lips curved into a grateful smile. "Thank you, ma'am."
"Alright, just complete the onboarding process today itself. Head to the 15th floor, the director's office. You'll need to get your joining letter signed by him directly, since the project you'll be joining is personally handled by him. I'll inform his secretary about you."
"Yes, ma'am. Thank you, I'll get it done." Sara bowed her head slightly before leaving the room, her steps filled with a nervous kind of excitement.
The elevator ride to the 15th floor felt endless, her heart thudding with anticipation. When she reached, a neatly dressed secretary approached.
"Yes?" the secretary asked politely.
"Uh— I'm Sara. A new joinee. HR might have informed you… I was told to collect my joining letter from the director's office," she explained, her voice soft but steady.
The secretary gave a small nod. "Ah, yes. He's on a call right now. I'll let you know once he's free."
Sara nodded and sat down on one of the chairs outside, her legs bouncing restlessly against the marble floor. Today, finally, something was working in her favor.
Once she gets the joining letter in her hands, she could rush to the daycare and scoop her baby boy into her arms. It had been such a long day without him; her heart kept worrying about how he must be doing, whether he'd eaten, and whether he was asking for her.
Her heel tapped against the marble floor in a restless rhythm, impatience creeping in as she waited. She wanted this formality over with so she could breathe again.
"Miss Sara… please come in," the secretary called at last.
A smile broke on her face as she stood quickly, smoothing her dress and hair, gathering her nerves. With excitement humming through her, she pushed open the heavy office door—
And froze.
Her smile collapsed instantly.
Because sitting behind that desk, looking straight at her, were the eyes she thought she had left behind forever.
Those green eyes.