Judgment

The Scars She Hid From The World

REGINA MCBRIDE

The heavy iron gates of the Wilderness Correction Camp groaned as they released me after three years of state-sponsored hell. I stood on the dirt road, clutching a plastic bag that held my entire life, waiting for the family that claimed they sent me there for "rehab." My brother, Brady, picked me up in a luxury SUV only to throw me out onto a deserted highway in the middle of a brewing storm. He told me I was a "public relations nightmare" and that the rain might finally wash the "stink" of the camp off me. He drove away, leaving me to limp miles through the mud on a snapped ankle. When I finally dragged myself to our family estate, my mother didn't offer a hug; she gasped in horror because my muddy clothes were ruining her Italian marble. They didn't give me my old room back. Instead, they banished me to a moldy gardener’s shack and hired a "babysitter" to make sure I didn't embarrass them further. My sister, Kaleigh, stood there in white cashmere, pretending to cry while clinging to her fiancé, Ambrose—the man who had once been mine. They all treated me like a volatile junkie, refusing to acknowledge that Kaleigh was the one who planted the drugs in my bag three years ago. They wanted to believe I was broken so they wouldn't have to feel guilty about the "wellness retreat" that was actually a torture chamber. I sat in the dark of that shed, feeling the cooling gel on the cigarette burns that covered my arms, and realized they had made a fatal mistake. They thought they had erased me, but I had returned with a roadmap of scars and a hidden satellite phone. At dinner, I didn't beg for their love. I simply rolled up my sleeves and showed them the price of their silence. As the wine spilled and the lies crumbled, I sent a single text to the only person I trusted: "I'm in. Let them simmer." The hunt was finally on.

Modern Revenge Scheming Kickass Heroine Comeback Revenge

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I just graduated college in California and moved back to Washington.

I had only been back home for 2 weeks and already went on over 45 interviews. Unfortunately, I was not offered any of the positions as I was fresh out of college and didn't have much experience.

I was able to secure an interview with a well known tech company as a third assistant to the CEO. Even though this role was not associated with my degree, it got my foot in the door.

It still would not be an easy application. I only got the interview because my best friend works for the company in human resources and was able to pull some strings. I am technically not even qualified for this position but at this point I am applying to anything.

I sat in the waiting room for my interview.

"Ms. Tessa Jones, they are ready for you in the conference room."

"Thank you" I said as I walked past her and into the room.

This room was quite large and somewhat fancy. I immediately noticed two people sitting at the desk with a video camera setup. I could tell they sensed my confusion.

"Hello Ms. Jones. My name is Charles, and this is Julia. The interview will be videotaped as Grayson, the CEO cannot be here for the interview process. Are you ok with this?”

I have been on lots of interviews, and this was the first, but I will do anything to get a job at this point.

"Absolutely” I said as I sat down.

It was to the point, and I felt it went a little quicker than my other interviews. I didn't know if this was a good thing or a bad thing.

"We will be making the decision by Friday at 5pm and you will start first thing Monday morning. Will this be an issue?" Charles asked.

"I can start any time you need me!" With that, I left the building.

I text my friend Alyssa who works in the building to see if she could meet me for lunch.

Me: {Hey, just finished my interview. Can you meet downstairs at the café for lunch?}

Alyssa: {I will be right down!}

I grabbed a seat at a table and waited for her.

She walked in and yelled loudly "Tessa! How was it? Are you excited? I really hope we get to work in the same building!”

"It was short, and they told me that they would let me know by Friday at 5pm." I told her.

"Oh, but it's only Wednesday. You have to wait that long?" she asked.