Sophia Jones was a few months away from finishing her master and she was terrified. She didn't want to admit to anyone including herself that she didn't know what to do after. All she's ever known is studying and studying. Getting into the world wit...
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"But why, why, why can't people just say what they mean?"
Graeme Simsion
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"Sophia! You've helped me a lot in the past and I was wondering if you wanted to come to the party as well. I think that will be a good experience for you!" Felipe offered one day when he came for a meeting.
Apparently, they were holding a business party in Mexico where many investors and businessmen and businesswomen would be coming.
Felipe and I got quite close in the past months. He came several times and all those times he refused to come with his translator.
We shared many conversations and he said several times that I reminded him of his daughter.
"Felipe, that would be an honor but it's something too important for me to come!" My supervisor was invited as the head of the department but I was nothing but a simple employee.
"Luke can take you! I'll be there and he will too so you won't be alone. I'd like to introduce you to my wife!" Felipe excitedly explained.
"I have no problem with that!" Luke answered shrugging.
"Are you sure?" I asked again unsure if it was a good idea for me to attend such an important party.
"I'll be there, nothing to worry about!" Luke said with reassuring eyes and I believed him. I didn't trust myself but I trusted him.
What is the worst that can happen?
Have awkward conversations? Eating alone in a corner?
Nothing that I've never experienced before so I agreed.
But of course, word spread in my department, and my colleagues were enraged.
For a newbie like me to go to such a place, it looked fishy in their minds and the rumors just got worse.
But all this time I kept my head up proud that someone important asked me to attend such a party. That only meant that I was qualified enough to attend one.
___
Things with my parents were slowly getting back to normal.
After I left I kept texting my mom often to let her know that I was alright and that I missed them. I also wrote to my dad but he didn't answer back. He read them but never answered.
My mom did that too at first. She would read my texts but didn't reply back.
Both of them kept thinking that I abandoned them and I was determined to continue showing them that wasn't the case.
I needed distance for myself but to make them understand that, was difficult.
My sister also judged my decision when I told her I left home. Coming from someone who left without saying anything and leaving her entire family for a man, I thought that was hypocritical to say.
