The HR representative doesn’t waste any time, walking me through the termination contract I have to sign. I should probably have Harley, who moonlights as my personal lawyer, look it over first, but I don’t want to be in this building for a second longer than necessary. I scrawl my signature at the bottom of the page and sprint back to the elevator.

As soon as the doors open at the lobby floor, I run as fast as my heels allow to the exit of the building, pushing outside and sucking in a big breath of fresh New York City air. I purchase a pretzel from a nearby cart and sink down at one of the bistro tables dotting the courtyard of the building next door. Fishing my phone from a pocket of my purse, I pull up our group text chain.

ME: Blueprint at 7:00.

HARLEY: Perfect place to celebrate!

ME: I think you mean commiserate.

NICK: Fuck. What happened? And do we really need to trek to Brooklyn?

ME: I’ll tell you guys tonight. And yes. I can’t go out and be surrounded by whiny finance bros tonight.

ME: No offense, Nicky.

HARLEY: *hugs*

GEMMA: Shit, just seeing this. WTF, Sadie? Also, Nick, kindly remember the actual hardworking half of us live in Brooklyn.

NICK:

I don’t bother to respond. After inhaling my pretzel, I manage to make my commute home, moving on autopilot, proceeding straight to my neighborhood liquor store as soon as I climb the subway stairs at my stop. Grabbing two bottles of wine, I head to the cashier before doubling back for a third and fourth. I pick up a basket, also tossing in a bag of Cheetos and a supersized pack of M&M’s.

My apartment is just a block away from the store, but lugging home all my loot makes it feel much farther. I trudge up the five flights of stairs in my nondescript brick building, my reusable tote full of booze and junk food hitting the back of my leg with each step, the smacks punctuating the negative thoughts racing through my brain.

Of course you got fired.

Who would want you to work for them?

It’s not like you work that hard.

Why do you think you’re so much better than everyone else?

Pausing on a landing to catch my breath, I shut my eyes and attempt to push the voice to the back corner of my brain.