Late

Mary drove her car into the company's parking lot and stayed there for a few minutes, rethinking what had happened.

She sat there in her car, staring into the car's headliner.She thought, is it really just my imagination?...No, I never have imagination,that weird before.What's going on! I wish someone could just explain to me!

After a few minutes of thinking,she mumbled,'Oh right today,I have a meeting.What's the time now?'She looked at her phone.Her trembling hands slowly moved towards it and she immediately took it up and took a look at the time and threw it back to the passenger seat.

It was 1:25pm and the meeting started at 1:35pm.She laid back and continued thinking.Suddenly, she sprang up and mumbled,'if it is 1:25pm and the meeting time is 1:35pm... And I remembered hearing them saying that everyone should be there 10 minutes earlier before the meeting.Then...I'm late!'

She jumped out of the car and dashed into the building.She passed the counter and ran towards the lift.The lift slowly closed and she yelled'I haven't entered yet! Please wait!'The lift slowly opened up and waited for her.She rushed into the lift and panting breathlessly from all the running.

Then,the girl next to her spoke,'Oh,I thought I heard a familiar sound,so it was really you,Mary.'Mary looked up,still panting breathlessly.'Oh,Emily.Sorry,I didn't see you there.'She spoke out breathlessly.Emily(a long brown hair girl with sharp eyes and brown pupil) chuckled and said'I can tell from the way you just rushed in and ignored me so why the rush?'

'What do you mean why the rush our meeting start at 1:35pm!?'

'Mary... didn't you look at your phone today?The meeting time changed to 2:00pm.'

'Wait,did it?Let me check.'

She took out her phone and looked at the chat.'Oh,it really did change,guess I overlooked it.' she said in a low and embarrassed tone.Emily looked at her'Yeah,it changed,girl.So chill down and here.'She gave Mary a napkin to wipe her sweat.

'Thanks!'Mary said in a grateful voice.

'I don't want you to go in there looking so sweaty,so go on and wipe yourself.'

'So, do I need to return it tomorrow?'

'Nah,you can keep it.Take it as a gift.'

They both laughed and the lift opened.They reached their floor and both of them walked into the meeting room together.

After the meeting, Mary sat in her chair, facing a computer and her fingers on the keyboard. She kept dozing off so she used both of her hands to slap her cheeks. The office workers looked at her with shock but didn't ask her anything.

She thought to herself, you need to be serious Mary, this is a big project! If we succeed, you can take your brother out and eat or even better, you can get a day off and spend your time with your brother. Wait, snap out of it Mary. We can do the planning later. Just do your project first!

Mary snapped out of it and does her work. She placed her fingers on the keyboard, her face close to the screen and typed.

After a while, she did her work. She looked at the time and it was so late. She stood up and packed her documents. Suddenly, something knocked on her table. She was taken aback, she slipped on one of the papers and fell back to her chair.

She heard a chuckle in front of her, she looked up and saw Emily looking at her. She said in an exhausted voice,' bro, I've been waiting for you to notice me for ages.'Mary stood back up and said in an annoyed tone,' then, why didn't you call me and don't be so dramatic.

'Eh, Mary are you mad? Are you annoyed?'

Mary quickly gathered up her documents again and moved to her computer to save the progress of her project.

'Mary don't ignore me, I'm going to be sad and by that like really sad.'

'I know, you won't be that sad. You have tons of friends.'

Mary packed finished and walked away. Emily dashed towards Mary and hugged her.

'I'm sorry for not calling you, ok? Just please don't ignore me!'Emily said with a pitiful look.

'Fine! But still, stop hugging me like that! Your heavy!'

Emily let go and stood next to her crossing her hands on her stomach.

'Mary, your so mean. You wouldn't mind me doing this when we're young. Is it because of your little bro-'

'SHUT UP!'

Mary raised her voice and Emily flinched a little. Mary noticed and changed her tone to a troubled voice.

'Oh, I'm sorry. It just that I need to fetch my brother.'

Then, Mary disappeared behind the door. Emily still looking shocked, suddenly let out a chuckle. 'Oh, Mary. You'll never change.'She mumbled in a happy tone.'Whenever it comes to your brother, you'll get pissed off so easily.' She let out a sigh and walked to the door and disappeared behind it.

Mary dashed out of the door and kept pressing the down button at the lift. After a few minutes passed, it still didn't open. It's taking too long, she thought to herself. It'll be faster if I take the stairs.

She rushed to the stairs and jumped three steps at a time. She almost slipped and fell but managed to hold the handle.

She rushed to her car and drove away and arrived at her brother's school. Jack was talking to a teacher, he seemed sad.

Mary opened the window and called out to Jack. Jack looked at her with a smile, he waved goodbye to the teacher and rushed into the car.

He entered the car and said, 'sister, you're late.'Mary looked at him with an apologetic look and said,' I'm sorry, work has been really busy lately.'

'It's alright, sister. I'm not mad but please don't overwork. When I grow up, I'll take care of you.'

Mary looked away from her brother and drove away with a smile.

'You're so cute.'Mary said joyfully while petting Jack's head. Jack looked at her and smiled happily.

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