"Mommy?,Mommy!"
I snap out of my reminiscing and turned to my son,
'yes sweetie?'
'Something's burning ',He pointed his little finger at the gas cooker,I look back to see the pancakes I made all black and burnt, turning off the gas cooker,I trash the pancake,fixed my son a cereal and prepared him for school....
After dropping my son off at school with our
daily ritual of kisses and hugs, I hailed a cab to head to my workplace, a cash-strapped TV station on the outskirts of town. The morning sunlight cast a warm glow over the city, but my mind was already focused on the day's challenges.
Before diving into the day's tasks, I made a pit stop at the cozy cafe next door, where the enticing aroma of freshly roasted cocoa beans enveloped me. The soft hum of indie music and gentle chatter created a soothing atmosphere, a stark contrast to the chaotic office that awaited me.
At the counter, I ordered my usual: a dozen Americanos to-go, expertly brewed to kick-start my morning. "The usual, Maddie?" the barista asked with a smile, handing me the steaming cups.
"Thanks, Mike," I replied, grabbing the coffee tray. "You're a lifesaver."
With my caffeine fix secure, I stepped into the crisp morning air, ready to face whatever lay ahead.
The TV station's worn facade loomed before me, its faded logo a reminder of better days. I took a deep breath, steeling myself for another long day in a workplace that seemed determined to drain my energy.
As I pushed through the doors, the familiar sight of cluttered desks and worn carpeting greeted me. My colleagues' faces were already bathed in the glow of their screens, their expressions ranging from focused to frazzled.
I distributed the Americanos, setting each cup beside its intended recipient. "Good morning, everyone!" I called out,as usual,no one returned my greetings,
My desk, a sanctuary of sorted chaos, awaited me, piled high with scripts and production notes. But today, something was off.
Instead of the familiar stack of papers and files, a towering pile of books dominated my workspace: "The History of Broadcasting," "Media Law," "Effective Storytelling." A post-it note read: "Research and analysis due by EOD. -Mgmt"
My heart sank.
This was the workload they'd been assigning me lately - menial research tasks, far beneath my capabilities. The message was clear: I wasn't trusted with real projects.
As the day drew to a close, my colleagues began discussing dinner plans. "Who's up for Italian tonight?" Tom asked, glancing around the room.
"I am!" Emily chimed in.
Sarah, our producer, nodded curtly. "I'll join."
I hesitated, hoping to be included. "Hey, can I come too?"
Sarah's gaze snapped to me, her expression icy. "You have work to do, Maddie.That research isn't going to finish itself."
I felt a sting from her tone. "I've made good progress. An hour won't hurt."
Tom and Emily exchanged uneasy glances, but said nothing.
Sarah's voice dripped with disdain. "You're already behind schedule. Don't make us cover for you again."
The others nodded in agreement, their faces closed off.
I shrunk back, feeling the familiar weight of exclusion.
As they packed up and left, I remained at my desk, surrounded by the oppressive silence.
The hours blurred together as I delved deeper into the task.
Before I knew it, the office was empty.
The silence was oppressive, but I refused to let it get to me.
I worked, fueled by determination and a hint of anger.
As the darkness outside deepened, I glanced at the clock.
6:47 PM.
My heart sank.
I had forgotten to pick up my son.
Panic set in, followed by a wave of guilt.
How could I be so careless?
I quickly gathered my things and rushed out of the office.
The cool evening air slapped me back to reality.
What kind of mother forgot her child?
I hailed a cab, my mind racing with worst-case scenarios.
The cab ride felt like an eternity.
Finally, I arrived at the after-school program.
My son's face lit up when he saw me.
"Mommy, you're late," he said, his voice tinged with concern.
I hugged him tightly. "I'm so sorry, baby. I got caught up at work."
He forgave me with a smile.
"I knew you'd come, Mommy."
The guilt lingered, but his words soothed my frazzled nerves.
As we walked home, hand in hand, I vowed to prioritize better.
Work might be a struggle, but my son's love and trust were non-negotiable.
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