Lydia's POV
I woke up the next morning trying to get ready for work. My eyes burned with dryness, my body ached from yesterday's tension. I tried to sit up, but my body sent a wave of weariness through me. My alarm kept ringing, filling the room with an annoying sound. Even when it stopped, its echo lingered, leaving the air tense. I had to wake up anyway because the morning had officially begun.
I checked on Zoey, and she was still sleeping gracefully. I covered her well with her blanket and walked to the kitchen to prepare breakfast before Miss Beatrice came in to disturb me with her unending noise. I quickly made a plate of scrambled eggs, toast with jam, and sausage with a glass of milk. Zoey came to the kitchen to meet me after a long sleep.
"Good morning, Mom," she said.
"Good morning, my beautiful daughter."
"How was your night?"
"It was good, Mom," she answered, smiling from ear to ear because she saw what I'd made, and that was her favorite breakfast. "Come sit over here and eat your breakfast, my love."
As Zoey was busy devouring her breakfast, I sat down beside her, thinking about what the doctor said.
"You need to hurry up with breakfast and take your medication," I said.
"I need to get to work early. I'm on the morning shift, and it's a five-hour shift. I don't want the manager, Mr. Peters, to start roaring at me again."
"You won't be going to school today. You need to get better. Your health is more important at this point than anything else," I said to Zoey.
"Alright, Mummy," she responded.
I gave Zoey her medication and left for work immediately.
As I walked to the bus stop, my stomach tightened at the thought of yesterday. I'd missed another shift; I didn't call Mr. Peters or provide any form of explanation. I could hear his sharp, loud voice in my head, the way he liked to remind us that we were all replaceable and not special. I had no choice but to go face him and accept whatever he told me. Besides, my Zoey was more important than a ticking clock. But that didn't stop the worry from creeping in.
I got to work at exactly 7:50 a.m., and I met Doris. Doris is one of the workers at the bakery and is also a friend of mine.
"Mr. Peters is very mad at you," she said.
"Where is he?"
I asked, not knowing what to think or how he would react to my situation, because that wasn't even the first time I'd missed work without asking for his permission.
I knocked at his office door, shaking, not knowing what to expect.
"Come in," he said without looking up.
As soon as I stepped inside, his face became tight and red, his eyebrows drawn together. I could tell just by looking at his face that he was furious.
"Good morning, Mr. Peters," I said.
"Good morning, Miss Lydia," he answered without looking at me.
"Where were you yesterday?" His voice cut through me like a whip.
I swallowed hard, trying to find my words. But I lacked what to say. I struggled to reply to him. "—I had to take my daughter to the hospital. She wasn't well."
"That is not an excuse," he snapped, cutting me off. "We can't run this bakery on flimsy excuses. You know the rules, Miss Lydia."
"I know, and I'm really sorry. It won't happen again."
"Miss Lydia, sorry isn't enough," he said coldly. "This isn't the first time, and I can't risk it happening again. I have no choice but to let you go," he said without any atom of remorse.
"Please... I need this job," I said, my voice shaking with confusion and pain.
He stood up firmly. "I'm sorry. Today is your last day. Pack your things. HR will handle the paperwork."
My mind raced, my hands trembled, and all of a sudden, the air conditioner started blowing hot air. I was having inner heat that I couldn't control. Everything was blurry because of tears. "Please... I need this job. My daughter..."
He turned away, dismissing me with a single look. "I'm done here."
The office felt suffocating all of a sudden. I could hear the blood rushing in my ears. Outside, the world went on as if nothing had happened.
Doris appeared in the doorway just as I broke down. She hugged me, and I cried even harder because I needed that hug so badly. "I'm done for, Doris. I really need this job. Zoey's medications, school fees, and bills are piling up. Where am I supposed to get money from?"
"You will get another job very soon," Doris said, still hugging me very tight.
Doris and I went outside the bakery. "God, I'm tired and exhausted," I screamed.
"All will be well very soon, Lydia. Take it easy on yourself. You are stronger than you think," Doris said, trying to encourage me.
I stumbled out of the bakery, the city's noise hitting me like waves. Cars were passing by, and people were walking past me, but I barely noticed them. The world suddenly became too big, too cruel.
Just yesterday, I was thinking of getting an extra job, and now I'm sacked from the only job that kept me going.
And yet, even in the chaos, one thought anchored me: I can't give up. Zoey depends on me. I will find a way, no matter what.