Chapter 1 Lyra

• Lyra POV.
• “I'm sorry, Lyra but we are letting you off this time” Mr. Jones explained just as calmly and I let my eyes clenched shut, wishing those horrible words away.
• “I’m really sorry, Lyra but I hope you can understand how difficult this decision has being for us. We hope…” he continued to speak but I was no longer paying attention to whatever apology he was throwing at me at this point. My heart was already shattered and I can’t help but think up a coping mechanism before I leave his office.
• This is my fourth job of being a sales assistant in just two freaking month and is it my fault that people are not willing to buy stocks. The market is sinking on the daily as it is but still I can’t help but wonder why it has to be me again.
• Why am I the one getting laid off every freaking time there is a melt down. Is something wrong with my face? Or is it my name that is cursed because I just can’t help myself but wonder.
• I let the thought wash over me as I inhaled a deep breath and exhaled slowly through my mouth before flicking my eyes open once again. I know I can do this. I can definitely walk out of here without breaking down in tears like I did last time.
• I can really do this.
• “Miss Ogar? Are you okay?” I heard his voice calling at me with concern.
• I let out another breath before mustering up enough courage to put a smile back on my face despite the truck digging a hole at the pit of my stomach.
• “Yes, yes. I’m fine. I’m perfectly fine. I mean, why won’t I be?” I asked him and he sighed.
• “Look, I know how hard this is for you but I hope you can unders_” he began to explain once again and I cut him off.
• “_I do understand, Mr. Jones. I really do. Thank you for having me at your company this past month but I must take my leave now”
• I got back on my feet with squared shoulders before turning on my heels and walking out the door with my heels clicking off the tiles floor.
• I made it back to my little desk and began to pick up my personal items off the table and into the box sitting on my chair. Packing up only took a minute as I had little to nothing to pack actually. Just my old laptop and photo frame of my parent and a coffee mug that had my name boldly written on it.
• The mug was a birthday present from my best friend, Maddy. We have been friends since high school. She got off big into medicine and now she works in one of the big fertility clinic in town while I’m still getting laid off work every freaking damn month.
• I finished packing and stood with my box in hand before glancing back at the place that is about to become my once upon a time, before I turned and began to head out.
• I met Suzi from the second floor heading down as well and arched a brow when she saw me with box.
• “is it what I think it’s?”
• “What? You think I got fired? Jezz, you are so dramatic. I’m just getting rid of this old stuffs. I want to redecorate you know?”
• She gave me a weird look and I shrug, “Yeah, good luck with that”
• “Yeah thanks”
• I hate to tell lies but sometimes, they are people you come across and can’t allow yourself to be seen as a loser even if you are already one. Suzie is one of those people. She is not only a gossip but a stupid one at that. I bet her feet is already itching to go tell everyone I have been fired.
• We stood in that awkward silence before the elevator bell chimed and we both got out with me heading towards the exit and her towards the reception.
• My face was immediately hit with bright sunlight as I head towards my old beat up van in the company’s parking lot. I placed my box into the backseat and finally let my façade crumble a little as I leaned against the steering wheel, wishing myself not to cry but the more I try, the more I crack into tiny little piece.
• What started out as a little sobs quickly morphed into wailing as though I had being slap in the face. Loosing this job was more than a slap to my face. It was worst than that.
• It meant me putting up with Ryder's bullshit once again.
• Ryder is my boyfriend and sometimes I wonder how I ever fell in love with someone like him. I know, it was really great from the start but after four years and still counting and I’m finally starting to see him for who he really is.
• A freaking Narcissist who thinks himself to be so great that I can’t do without him and maybe he is right, I really can’t do without him at least not while I’m depending on him to pay off the rent on my single room apartment in downtown new York.
• He landed a big singing gig in California and has been out of town for two weeks now but hopes to be back before his 27th birthday. I can’t be free of him even if I want to.
• I mean, not while I keep getting laid off and without a single penny in my account, I’m going to keep depending on whatever he dishes out and I will swallow it without complaint.
• I let myself cry some more before sniffing back the rest and wiping away the rest with the back of my hand. I took more calming breath before inserting the key into the ignition and turning it on before reversing out of the lot and into the main road before heading home.
• **
• I arrived back at home and went up the stairs only to struggle with the locks for a while before i eventually went inside.
• My apartment was just the way I left it, untouched and dark before I settled the box I was carrying on the sofa before walking over to the window and pulled the curtains apart to let streams of sunlight into the place.
• Lolo heard my voice and came looking for a cuddle. I picked her up and into my arms and began to comb my fingers throw her soft furs while she meow and purr at me.
• Lolo was a stray cat I picked off the street two months ago. Ryder said it’s a bad idea to keep her but I think she is too cute to be left to freeze out in the cold and ever since she has been living with me.
• I placed her back on the floor after a while and moved into the small space I called my kitchen and pulled the fridge open before retrieving my almost empty carton of milk and walking back to her plate and poured it for her to drink.
• “Come here girl, come have some milk” I cooed at her and lolo came running and began to have her milk while I moved back to the living room to seat down on the sofa. My head starting to ache as well.
• I pulled out my phone to text Ryder before I remembered his birthday was just hours away and decided to call the local pantry instead.
• Even though I know how much he hates birthdays and surprises. I still can’t help but want to do something nice for him. It’s my little way of showing I do care for him even though he is most likely going to treat it like trash.
• The phone continued to ring as I placed it in my ear and waited for someone to pick up. After the second ring, someone finally comes to answer the call.
• “Hello, Aurora pantry here. How may I be of help to you?”
• “I did like to place a cake order for tomorrow afternoon. Something nice and small”
• “Alright ma'am. We have got you covered”
• “Okay then”
• I gave them details of what I needed and waited for a confirmation before hanging up eventually with a sigh.