Mia's feet dragged along the uneven pavement. The cold wind stung her face, carrying with it the faint scent of street buzz. Her head was bowed low, strands of her auburn hair sticking to her damp cheeks. She clutched her phone tightly in one hand, her other hand trembling at her side.
Tears streamed down her face, hot and relentless, mingling with the chill of the evening air. Her mind replayed the scene from earlier at work, the manager's sharp voice, the judgmental stares from her colleagues, and the sinking realization that she no longer had a job.
"You've been too distracted, Mia," the manager had said, his voice lacking any trace of empathy. "We can't keep someone who isn't giving a hundred percent. I'm sorry, but this is the end of the road."
The words had been a dagger to her chest. Mia had pleaded, insisting she would do better, but it was no use. The decision was final.
