Contract marriage with the Adonis

The government office smelled faintly of printer ink, paper, and old coffee. Harsh fluorescent lights buzzed above, casting a pale, sterile glow over the dull gray walls and plastic chairs. Cecilia Brooks sat stiffly outside the Human Resources Department, her fingers tightening around the worn strap of her handbag.

She had a bad feeling. The kind that settled deep in your gut and refused to let go.

"Miss Brooks?" a voice called from the doorway.

She stood, smoothing the front of her navy blouse, and stepped into the office.

Behind the desk sat Ms. Patricia Walker, HR Director of the State Administrative Office. Her glasses were perched low on her nose, lips pressed into a thin line. She didn't invite Cecilia to sit.

"This won't take long," she said, sliding a manila folder across the desk. "Due to budget cuts and restructuring, your position has been eliminated. Effective immediately."

Cecilia blinked. "Wait-what? I've worked here for five years. My performance reviews have always been above average."

Ms. Walker gave a tight smile. "It's not a performance issue. The department's downsizing. Unfortunately, several positions-including yours-were deemed nonessential."

Cecilia's stomach dropped. "I was a senior administrative assistant. I handled case scheduling, correspondence, records-how is that nonessential?"

The HR director shrugged with the indifference of someone who had said this a hundred times before. "Your severance will be processed in two weeks. Please sign here to acknowledge termination."

Cecilia stared at the paper.

She had spoken out at a staff meeting last month about irregular spending in the travel budget. She hadn't accused anyone-she'd simply asked questions. Clearly, someone hadn't appreciated it.

Her hand trembled slightly as she picked up the pen and signed.

---

The walk out of the building felt like a slow unraveling. People who once shared coffee breaks with her avoided her eyes, now absorbed in their computer screens or suddenly busy on calls.

No one asked what happened.

Outside, the heat hit her like a wall. Midday sun glared off the sidewalks of downtown Atlanta, and cars zipped past the government plaza.

She moved on autopilot, crossing the street and heading toward the bus stop. Her mind was racing.

$1,350 due for rent in five days.

$210 in unpaid utility bills.

$58.17 left in her checking account.

Her phone buzzed. A text from her landlord: "Last warning. No late payments this month."

Her throat tightened. She hadn't cried yet, but her eyes burned. Not here. Not in public.

She walked a few blocks in silence, but her low heels began pinching her feet. She slipped them off and continued barefoot, hugging her purse to her side.

At the corner, she passed a food truck with the smell of grilled cheese and garlic fries wafting into the air. Her stomach growled. She hadn't eaten since morning coffee.

She kept walking.

She didn't have money for snacks. She barely had money for the bus.

How had her life unraveled so quickly? A month ago, she had stability. A government paycheck, modest but dependable. Now it felt like she was dangling by a thread.

At the next intersection, she stopped and waited for the pedestrian light to change. Her gaze drifted across the street as cars passed in steady waves.

She could apply for private sector jobs, but those took time. Maybe a temp agency would have something. Maybe her sister could lend her enough to get through next week. Or maybe-

HOOOOOONK!

The blare of a car horn tore through her thoughts.

She had stepped into the street without realizing the light was still red.

A sleek black car turned the corner at full speed. The driver slammed the brakes, tires shrieking, the vehicle skidding across the asphalt.