Evil is looming on the horizon.
Matthias can feel it. The rest of the pack senses it too. Their duty is to protect those who can't protect themselves, but how can they do that when the monsters they hunt are changing? After an increase in human dis...
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"I'm sorry, Cheyenne, but I have to let you go." Mrs. Monroe said as she held my hands in hers, giving them a gentle squeeze. Her eyes glistened as moisture began to fill them and when a sympathetic smile graced her lips those tears threatened to spill over onto her rosy cheeks.
I knew she didn't want to fire me, but she had to. The new Starbucks they had opened up in the city put a real strain on business for her little coffee shop. Her husband purchased it for her as an anniversary gift shortly before he passed away. This shop was the only real piece of him she had left. I didn't want to see her lose it, but I knew that we'd barely been breaking even these last few months.
"It's okay, Ellie. I know you have to." I said, giving her a cheerful grin. This woman had done so much for me. I couldn't let her see how crushed I was.
Not many places will hire someone without prior work experience, but she took a chance on me. I was only 16 when I started working for her. I began as a dishwasher and worked my way up to cashier. I only made a little above minimum wage, but with tips, it was enough for me to get by.
I was able to save up, emancipate myself, and get my own apartment at the age of 17. My foster parents weren't too happy about that, but that didn't concern me much. They hadn't done me any favors and I've been doing alright on my own until now.
She pulled me in for a hug, squeezing me tightly. She sniffled in my ear and it made my stomach feel heavy, like I'd just swallowed a bunch of rocks. I wasn't sure who was more upset, me or her.
"I'm so sorry," she whispered to me softly as she rubbed my back.
"Don't worry about me. I'll be fine, I promise." I reassured her as I broke away from her embrace to wipe a stray tear from my cheek. I cleared my throat, trying to keep the emotions at bay. I refused to break down now.
"You stay in college, you hear? Don't let anything stand in your way. You're destined for something big Cheyenne, I can feel it." She said earnestly, tucking some of my hair behind my ear.
I averted my gaze to the ground, doing my best to try and hide the droplets that were now streaming down my face.
I haven't had anyone in my life that truly cared for me as much as she has. She might have been my boss, but to me, she was so much more than that. I wiped my eyes, struggling to blink away my tears. I always felt over-emotional when someone showed real concern for my general well-being. Growing up without parents makes you that way, I guess.
She continued to rub my back until I made eye contact with her again. She smiled at me sweetly before pulling me in for one final hug. "If you need anything at all, you know where to find me."
