It was the day before Christmas Eve for Jill and, as far as she could remember, one of the worst. The sky was so gray as to almost didn’t exist. She was looking out the window hoping the snow would fall, would bring a little atmosphere between Manhattan skyscrapers, limiting their indescribable distance. It would have been tamed her sadness at the sight of the employers in the skyscrapers across the street, sitting at a desk like her, immersed in thoughts similar to her own.
For her it was the last day of work in that office. There was already a bottle of sparkling wine in the fridge waiting for her to drink to her farewell. At that difficult time so many people had to leave work but certainly no one with a motivation similar to hers. She was part of an office of the most hated: human resources. She was assisting her boss in interviews with employees by writing down every positive and negative note concerning them. But that morning he was sick and found herself alone conducting two recruitment interviews. His boss had already indicated which of the two had to be hired. Her task was merely to pretend interest with the other candidate, offering him some vague possibilities. But, unfortunately, having confused their names, she hired the wrong person. So the next day, on her desk, she found the letter of resignation. Within a week she had to leave.
After the farewell toast, after accepting the hugs and advice of her colleagues, she collected her effects from her desk and put them in a big box. So she took the elevator and, before leaving, returned the ID card.
She went right out into the alley, avoiding the aggressive smell of fries and sauces coming from the Asian restaurant. A gust of cold wind, like a slap, greeted her on the main road while with her box in hand she tried to get out of the way by avoiding the ice sheets at the edges of the sidewalk and the line of people immersed in the small monitors of their phones.
Taking a taxi was an impossible task, so she slowly crossed the Brooklyn Bridge along with many other people who tried to defend themselves from the strong cold wind coming from the river. She barely made it up to her apartment and, after she walked through the front door, threw the big box on the floor before, exhausted, jumping on the bed.
A doorbell announced the arrival of her neighbor, the only true friend. She had not had the courage to tell her she had lost job again.
“They organized a party not far from here.” said Christine, opening the door, and coming in with radiant eyes. “I have been invited and you will come with me. I don’t want to see you here all alone tonight.”
Jill shook her head announcing she lost job.
“That is not possible.” she said, putting her hands on her face. “Another time?”
Jill extended her arms. “I am tired of losing my job and going around all the skyscrapers in the city. I really don’t think New York City is my home. I decided to return to Charlotte NC.”
“Don’t think about it.” said Christine. “You’ll see, we’ll find another one. You can’t go home with your tail between your legs. I’ll never let you do it. This bloody misfortune will pass, I’m sure.”
She took her friend by the back. “I could never live in this city without you. I’ll still find you another one. You’ll see, it’ll be the final one. But we’ll think about it after the holidays.” She nodded with a serious face. “You will come with me tonight. You will have fun and meet new people.”
Jill nodded sadly.
“Go get ready quickly.” She urged her strongly pointing the bathroom. “Fix yourself up. Tonight I’m sure you’ll meet interesting people.”
Jill slowly rose from her bed, looking like a sick woman in hospital for an incurable disease.
“And please put that funeral face away. You would bring depression to anyone.”
Jill went into the bathroom while Christine was outside talking.
“You cannot leave, you are the only true friend. What would I do without you?” She gave a long sigh. “Over the shoulder of whom else could I weep, confiding in my rare love misfortunes?”
Jill burst into a laugh. “But what rare misfortunes of love you are talking? You change boyfriends as often as I change jobs.”
Jill looked out at the bathroom door, half made up with the look of an Indian jumping on the back of his mustang. “But how many blue princes you cast out? “ She laughed returning to the bathroom. “You no longer liked one because he put his fingers in his nose for a moment, another because he answered Mom’s phone twice. Another because he laughed too much.” She laughed as the sink water started to flow. “Shall I go ahead with the list?”
“I was wrong to confide you are my friend.” said Christine as she approached the bathroom door. “You’re a real snake.”
Jill laughed thinking all the time when, in the middle of the night, she answered the doorbell and welcomed her in tears for an adventure ended badly. She often stayed up all night falling asleep in her bed.