Fated to Fade

Anna May

The City that never sleeps. New York.

-If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere.-

She mentally scoffed at her wayward thoughts. Mish had adored that particular song phrase.

Anna May made sure not to bump people. She had been navigating the business part of the district, trying to get her bearings. Her aim? Avoid tardiness. Nothing could stop her from her goal.

She paused before crossing, glanced at her map --grimaced. Two more buildings. Right at the end of the street. Southeast. Eyes alerted --people in all walks of life coming and going-- she strolled the yellow lines of the crosswalk.

Not much had changed since the last time she was here. Maybe busier. Population doubled. Heavy traffic tripled.

Only her life did. Drastically. From walking the prestigious runways of Milan, Paris, and Tokyo to walking the business district of Manhattan.

Not that it mattered. She was always good at adapting and her current situation had left her no other choice but to do this. At point non-plus.

No backing out. The only way was forward. Fate had spoken. It was her duty to listen.

Fate has given her thus. An opportunity. For her and the two most important people in her life. Her sisters.

Anna May had never shirked from her duties. Even at such a young age, she had donned the mantle on her fragile shoulders.

She had never been more determined about her goals. Her objectives. They all centered on her siblings' future.

She might have looked like she was out of her depth --she knew better. This was her fallback --a generous one-- after her so-called exciting and disastrous career in the modeling industry.

She inhaled sharply when her heart constricted. Thoughts of what she had been through flooded her mind.

Shaking her head to dispel the memories of the past, she continued walking. It was not the time nor the place to contemplate.

She had become a whole new person and she had made something of herself in the shadows, away from the limelight.

A better and a stronger version. A new career, a new Anna.

She was forever grateful for her aunt Delia. A mentor who had helped her cope up with everything.

And courtesy of her aunt Delia, she was promoted as a training manager to the biggest telecommunications in the world. Not only promoted --sent to work directly for the head office in New York City.

Talk about OPPORTUNITIES! And perks. Of course, the perks drew her in like a moth to a flame. All expenses paid, board, and lodging with everything she could ever imagine. Her sisters were very well taken care of at home. Not rich. A roof over their heads, meals three times a day, and funds for her youngest sister's frequent illness. Plus, Rie had started college while Mish took online classes.

The only flaw was she had to leave them and they were a thousand or so miles away from her. Her lips twisted --not in a smile-- to contain her homesickness.

-And I've only been away from them for two days.-

No matter, her next goal was to make the necessary arrangements to get them where she was.

It was a motivation unlike no other.

Squaring her shoulders in determination, she lengthened her strides to face her future. -Soon, my loves. Soon.-

***

Jesus Christ! She never thought the headquarters would be the highest building in Manhattan. With eyes steadily growing big, she halted, tilted her head up --way up-- and read the imposing sign of her new employer.

NORTH AMERICAN TELECOMMUNICATIONS. This is it!

-Be confident, Anna.- She chided herself and counted to ten. Desperate to try and calm her nerves.

-You excel at your job, that's why you are here.-

God! She always hated the first day of work. New people, new assholes, new fake people, and new buildings. Feeling like a headless chicken, she gritted her teeth --remembered her motivation.