I walked into the building, heart racing, thinking this was the start of something big. My dream job. My chance. I had worked my whole life for this. But when I stepped into the interview room and saw who was sitting across from me\u2026 my stomach twisted into knots.<\/p>\n
No. No way.<\/p>\n
The last person I ever wanted to see again in my life was right there, looking up at me like she belonged there.<\/p>\n
It was her.<\/p>\n
My mother.<\/p>\n
The woman who had ruined everything.<\/p>\n
Let me back up.<\/p>\n
When I was a little girl, I dreamed of being an architect, just like my dad. He used to sit with me and help me draw. He showed me how to shade buildings, how to sketch staircases and doors. He was my hero.<\/p>\n
He supported me every step of the way\u2014from messy crayon doodles to my final university exams. But just a few months before I graduated, he died. Suddenly. And with him, a huge piece of me disappeared too.<\/p>\n
He never got to see me wear that cap and gown. Never saw the proud moment I had worked so hard for. But I kept going\u2014for him. Every pencil I held, every model I built, I did it in his memory.<\/p>\n
Now I had moved back to my hometown\u2014the place filled with memories I had been running from for seven years. I came back for one reason only: to work at the company my dad had worked for. The company that had inspired me since I was little.<\/p>\n
I rented a small apartment nearby, close enough to walk to the office. As I unpacked, I found a photo of me and Dad\u2014me at six, holding a ruler while he laughed. I placed it gently on the shelf.<\/p>\n
That night, I couldn\u2019t sleep. My nerves were on fire. I kept unpacking until I passed out on the floor.<\/p>\n
I woke up with a start and looked at the clock. Two hours until the interview. I breathed a sigh of relief, pulled myself together, ate breakfast slowly, and got dressed with care. I was ready.<\/p>\n
Or so I thought.<\/p>\n
The building felt familiar. I used to visit Dad here, running through the hallways, waving at the security guard who used to sneak me candy.<\/p>\n
I sat outside the interview room, hands trembling. Other candidates were sitting too\u2014some in suits, others in jeans\u2014but all of them looked more confident than me.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s when I heard my dad\u2019s voice in my head:
\n\u201cRemember, you\u2019re better than anyone who stands in your way. Believe in my belief in you.\u201d<\/p>\n
I took a deep breath. Then a man walked out of the office, looking defeated. And then I heard someone call my name.<\/p>\n
The voice\u2014it made my skin crawl. No. That couldn\u2019t be right. Could it?<\/p>\n
I stepped into the room and froze.<\/p>\n
\u201cLinda?! What are you doing here?!\u201d I shouted, stunned.<\/p>\n
She looked up, startled. \u201cKassandra\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought it was just someone with the same name,\u201d she said quietly.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll ask again,\u201d I said, clenching my fists, \u201cWhat. Are. You. Doing. Here?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI work here,\u201d she replied, barely above a whisper.<\/p>\n
My heart pounded. Anger exploded out of me.
\n\u201cHow dare you?! How dare you work here\u2014in the building where he once worked?!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cKassandra, please,\u201d she said, glancing at the door. \u201cClose it. People are watching.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI want them to see!\u201d I shouted. \u201cLet them see what kind of person this company hires!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCan we just talk?\u201d she pleaded. \u201cAt least let me do the interview.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cInterview? You want to sit there and ask me questions like you\u2019re not the woman who ruined everything? You killed him!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t kill anyone! He had a heart attack!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause of you! He died alone while you were cheating on him!\u201d<\/p>\n
Her face tightened. \u201cThat man is my husband now. I\u2019d appreciate if you don\u2019t\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou think that makes it better?!\u201d I shouted. \u201cYou shouldn\u2019t even be in this building!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s just a job, Kassandra,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo. It\u2019s his job. This was his place!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy am I not in jail then, if I killed him?\u201d she snapped.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause life\u2019s unfair!\u201d I replied. \u201cAnd you don\u2019t have an ounce of guilt in you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you\u2019d let me explain\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t deserve to explain anything!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not even an architect. I\u2019m in HR,\u201d she said, almost desperate now.<\/p>\n
\u201cDoesn\u2019t matter. You shouldn\u2019t be here!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYour father would have wanted\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t you dare talk about what he wanted! You destroyed him with your lies and betrayal!\u201d<\/p>\n
A man poked his head in.<\/p>\n
\u201cLinda, do I need to call security?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t bother,\u201d I said, standing up. \u201cI\u2019ll go on my own.\u201d<\/p>\n
I stormed out of the building, tears already falling. By the time I got to my car, I was sobbing. My chest hurt. My head pounded.<\/p>\n
How could she do this to me again?<\/p>\n
Memories flooded back\u2014being in my dorm, studying for exams, when I got her call:
\n\u201cKassandra\u2026 your father\u2019s gone.\u201d<\/p>\n
And then learning later that while he was dying, she was in a hotel\u2026 with someone else. I had screamed at her, told her she was a monster. I never went back home after the funeral. Never spoke to her again.<\/p>\n
And now here she was, sitting in his office chair.<\/p>\n
I drove back to my apartment, barely aware of how I got there. I paced the room, back and forth, shaking. I couldn\u2019t work there. I couldn\u2019t be near her.<\/p>\n
Just as the sky turned dark, there was a knock on the door.<\/p>\n
I opened it\u2014and saw her.<\/p>\n
SLAM.<\/p>\n
\u201cKassandra, please. Let\u2019s talk,\u201d she said through the door.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have nothing to say to you!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI found your address. I\u2019m HR, remember?\u201d she said. \u201cAnd\u2026 you got the job.\u201d<\/p>\n
I blinked. \u201cHow can I get hired without an interview?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause I know what you\u2019re capable of. You\u2019re the best applicant,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t want your charity!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cJust take the offer.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not working there. Take it back!\u201d I shouted.<\/p>\n
I was about to walk away when she said,
\n\u201cAre you really going to give up your lifelong dream?\u201d<\/p>\n
I flung the door open. \u201cWhat do you know about my dreams?!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m your mother. I raised you. I am your family.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen why weren\u2019t you acting like family when you were cheating while Dad was dying?!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were getting divorced!\u201d she yelled back.<\/p>\n
I laughed bitterly. \u201cNow you\u2019re trying to blame him?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo! We had been living separately for three months. I just came to the house when you were there. Your dad and I agreed not to tell you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou had the perfect relationship,\u201d I said angrily.<\/p>\n
She shook her head. \u201cHe cheated on me\u2014with a younger colleague. That was the final straw. But things had been falling apart long before.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re lying!\u201d<\/p>\n
She reached into her bag and pulled out papers. Divorce papers. Dated four months before he died.<\/p>\n
I stared at them.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo\u2026 this isn\u2019t real,\u201d I whispered.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe protected you. We didn\u2019t want to ruin your image of him. But you\u2019re old enough to hear the truth.\u201d<\/p>\n
I dropped to the floor, clutching the papers. My whole world spun.<\/p>\n
\u201cYour father loved you more than anything. And so did I. But I\u2019m tired of being the only villain.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou should\u2019ve told me,\u201d I said softly.<\/p>\n
\u201cParents always try to protect their kids,\u201d she replied. \u201cAnd you didn\u2019t want to listen back then.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n
She sat down beside me on the floor.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe job offer still stands. If you want it.\u201d
\n\u201cWhy wouldn\u2019t I?\u201d<\/p>\n
She looked at me carefully. \u201cYou never stayed at any job longer than four months.\u201d<\/p>\n
I shrugged. \u201cI didn\u2019t like the conditions.\u201d<\/p>\n
She smiled a little. \u201cYou know, I always thought this was more his dream than yours.\u201d<\/p>\n
I thought about that. Drawing with him was fun. It brought us close. Maybe I chased this dream because I wanted more time with him. Maybe I was still chasing it, hoping to feel that connection again.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo?\u201d Linda asked. \u201cShould I wait for your signature?\u201d<\/p>\n
I hesitated, then finally said, \u201cMaybe I should think about it.\u201d<\/p>\n
She stood up. \u201cOkay. Then\u2026 goodbye.\u201d<\/p>\n
I looked up at her, my voice soft.<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you\u2026 Mom.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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