We rose to go to work, had breakfast, and left the apartment. Today might be the day of layoffs, and I couldn't be more frightened. Finding work here is tough; anything decent you can land is poorly paid.
We entered and the atmosphere was far from calm, tension thick as we passed through the door.
Department heads were summoned to an emergency meeting and the rest of us stood around with perplexed looks. Something was happening, and it was serious.
When everyone emerged, the gravity was unmistakable. I chose only to look at my shoes because I couldn’t bear to watch people being fired.
The hurried steps on the marble echoed, and a booming voice echoed throughout the company from the loudspeaker with a stern and clear command: "Everyone get to work, that's what I pay you for. Those named, come to my office immediately: Albizua, Benavidez, Colman, Hernandez, Martinez, Morgant, Velmar, Vitmen, and Zürich. The rest of you, return to your duties."
We glanced at each other and hurried out to our positions before being summoned by the boss who sent chills down our spines.
I began to carry the documents that I had to deliver, one addressed to the presidency floor. Just stepping into that place, my blood ran cold, my breathing heavy. The scene before me was dismal. All those called were in front of the presidential secretary’s desk, receiving what I believed to be their termination severance.
They were people who didn’t contribute much to the company but had families or responsibilities, and now they were jobless. Knowing how hard it is to get a job like this, I felt sorry for them. Unable to look any longer, I left the folder with the secretary, turned around, and hurried back to my post faster than usual.
Today there was no lively atmosphere, not even at lunchtime; we were all terrified of losing our jobs because the big boss wouldn't tolerate even the slightest errors.
I felt watched as I ate with Marina; danger was looming. I was sure something bad would happen. I began to look in all directions but saw no one watching me.
"Who are you looking for? Are you expecting someone?"
The air forgot how to reach my lungs, and I felt anxious. I started showing all the signs of a panic attack, on the day I needed to be most stable.
"I don't feel well."
"Come on, breathe, walk with me, one step at a time. Let’s go to the bathroom, it’ll be okay, breathe, you’re doing great, focus."
We reached the bathroom, Marina looking at me with concern as she dampened my pale face. I managed to calm down after several minutes.
"What caused it this time?"
"I don’t know; there's someone watching me, I feel in danger."
"There's no safer place than this; there hasn't been a single theft here. We have everything here, even security Liz, you’re seeing ghosts where there are none."
"I swear, there's someone. I never feel safe; I sense something will happen soon. You have to believe me."
"I'm always with you, and I’ve never felt anything. No one's followed us, not even when we went to the supermarket."
"Maybe you're right, but please, be alert, something is happening, I can feel it."
"Nothing bad will happen, but I’ll be vigilant anyway, okay? Now let’s go get a coffee at least since we won’t finish lunch, and with the boss in the mood he's in, I don’t think he'll accept us being late."
"Thanks, I don’t know what I'd do without you."
"Probably you'd be searching for a meaning in your life and dying of boredom; there aren't two like me."
"I love you, Mar, thank you."
"Babe, if you don't hurry, we’ll be the next ones named, and then we’ll cry for not having anywhere to drop dead; come on, let's run."
We left and arrived well in time at our places. There were no late arrivals or phone calls, nothing. Everyone was petrified of meeting the same fate as the others.
Unfortunately, we left work late, and rumors suggested the following days would be the same, though we'd be paid overtime.
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