Unfuck Yourself

2: The Wak

yes half-closed, and stumbled into the shower. As the water hit his face, he felt a familiar wave of dread wash over him. The wo

oulders. He had always been a go-getter, the guy people relied on, but lately, he couldn't keep it together. It wa

phone. A series of missed calls from his boss, a barrage of work emails, and one mess

at made him feel as if the ground had dropped out from beneath him. He knew that conversation was

but his thumbs hovered over the keyboard, motionless. Instead, he

-

ling that he was losing control-not just in his relationship, but in every part of his life. Work, personal growth, f

he office, his boss was waiti

le with her arms crossed. Her voice wasn't angry

e. "Yeah, traffic

talented guy, but lately your performance has been slipping. We've got

explain why he was barely holding it together, why

Sarah. I'll get back

t promise she actually believed. "I hope so. You've got potent

s. *You're better than this.* The words echoed in his h

-

d, and he didn't even know where to start fixing things. He sat in the breakroom, picking at a s

r work. We're

ucking" his life was well-meaning, but he wasn't sure

k: *"Fine. I'

-

ave the week before. This time, though, Max felt different. More de

own, leaning back in his chair with an air

ge of disaster, Laura's about to brea

. "Okay, so you're still stuck. You're stil

mitted. "I don't even

thinking about the whole mess, and it's overwhelming you. You can

time for that. I need to fix eve

ircles, trying to put out every fire at once. But if you keep doing

ubbling up. "You keep saying that, but I don't even kn

fix today? Just one thing. Forget about the bi

ugh the mess of his life. What *could* he fix

at work," he said quietly

hat's your step. Do that, and th

of the world had lifted. But for the first time in a long time, he felt like he

was, and the smallest flicker of hope th