"Another rejection"

"LARA'S POV"

I stood outside the fancy downtown cafè, staring at the “We’ve decided to go with a more experienced candidate” email on my phone.

This was my fourth failed interview this week. My feet ached from walking in cheap heels, and my stomach growled because I’d skipped lunch to save money.

At twenty years old, I was drowning.

Rent was due in four days. My savings account had $47.82 left. My part-time waitressing gig had cut my hours again, and my student loans kept sending those terrifying “Past Due” reminders. I was one bad week away from sleeping on the street.

I dragged myself back to my...