Waiting for Dawn

Chapter One

“Oh gosh! I am already late! Why am I always running late?” Rebecca darted around her condo, tidying up her room, and trying to get ready for the interview. Her toaster oven dinged. Breakfast was ready. Her coffee sat on the counter, already on the brink of going cold.

“I’ll pack the wrap to go and eat it while driving,” she muttered to herself, zipping up her dress with one hand while gulping down her coffee in a final attempt to enjoy it while it was warm. She wrapped up her breakfast, shoved it into her handbag, grabbed her phone, wallet, and keys, and rushed out the door.

As expected, the downtown traffic was brutal. Stress pooled in her chest as she watched the minutes tick by. She blasted the AC to full and switched to a random radio station, hoping some music or chatter would distract her from the growing anxiety.

Nearing her destination, she began scanning the area for a parking spot. Just as she spotted a perfect spot close to the building, another car swerved in ahead of her.

“Oh, come on!” she groaned, slapping her palm against the steering wheel. “Now I’ll have to circle the back streets.” Her voice was tense with frustration. “I’m definitely going to be late if I don’t start running.”

After a few tense minutes of hunting, she finally found a spot. As she locked her car and began rushing towards the payment kiosk, her phone rang.

“Ms. Endig?” a voice asked.

“Yes?” she panted, already halfway across the lot.

“Hello. This is Kirsten from the agency. I just wanted to inform you that your interview has been pushed back by 30 minutes due to a scheduling conflict. Please make sure you arrive at our offices no earlier than 9:00 am, and no later than 9:10 am. If you’re late, we’ll have to disqualify you.”

Kirsten spoke in one uninterrupted stream, gave a quick “Thanks,” and hung up before Rebecca could say a word.

“Rude,” Rebecca muttered at her phone.

But she couldn’t deny the wave of relief washing over her. It was only 8:30 now, and she was just a short walk of maybe five to eight minutes from the office. Now she had time to slow down, breathe, and gather herself. She could finally eat her wrap without choking on it in traffic.

She considered grabbing another coffee but decided against it. Her heart was already racing enough.

Rebecca strolled along the sidewalk towards the office, humming softly in an effort to quiet her buzzing nerves. She couldn’t tell whether it was the caffeine or the looming interview that had her chest pounding like a snare drum.

“I’m sure it’s the coffee,” she muttered with a nervous chuckle. “What’s so special about this interview anyway?”

It was just another small attempt to steady herself.

As her thoughts swirled, she glanced to her right, and stopped dead in her tracks.

“Watch it, lady!” someone behind her snapped after bumping into her. Rebecca didn’t respond. She barely noticed them, or the annoyed glances of the others sidestepping around her. The nerves had consumed her morning so thoroughly that she’d nearly forgotten about the thing in the window, the one she’d been eyeing for weeks now.

“You’re still here,” she whispered, stepping closer to the glass.

“Are you really meant for me?”

For a few long seconds, she simply stared. Her reflection overlapped the object in the window, as though the two of them existed in the same space, some strange symbolic alignment that sent a chill up her spine.

Then she snapped back to reality.

“Oh no! It’s already 8:45. I’d better get moving before that Kirsten lady decides to disqualify me.”

She turned to leave, but something pulled her back. One more look.

“You know what, my friend?” she said with a soft smile. “You’ve been sitting here all this time, giving me hope in your weird little way. If this interview goes well and you’re still here when I come back… I’ll buy you. That’ll be my final sign. My confirmation that it’s all going to work out.”

It had to mean something. She had almost missed it today. The way it caught her eye at the last moment, it felt like the universe was tugging at her sleeve.

This was her sign.

Months of emails. Endless phone calls. Background checks. Follow-ups. Interviews upon interviews. This was supposed to be the final step.

Today was it.

Today, she would know.

And honestly, it couldn’t come soon enough. 

Rebecca had waited too long. She was done hoping, done second-guessing.

She wanted certainty.

She wanted an answer.

And maybe, just maybe, the universe had finally decided to give her one.

With a steady breath, she walked into the office, her head high, her steps assured. Approaching the front desk, she gave Kirsten a calm smile.

“I’m here,” she said. “And I’m ready to begin.”