Chapter 3

Howard was speechless for a moment. He had never been challenged like this by an employee before. His anger surged.

"Very well." He grabbed a pen, scribbled his name on my resignation notice with a dramatic flourish, then slammed it back in front of me.

He yelled, "It's done. Get out now. We don't need emotional employees like you."

"Thank you, Mr. Jones." I took the paper without looking at him and turned to leave.

At the door, I paused and looked back at him. "By the way, Mr. Jones. Consider the 1 pint of blood I gave as charity. You're welcome. I hope Sasha won't need it again."

Then I opened the door and walked out without a backward glance.

I heard a glass shatter loudly behind me.

I walked back to the workspace.

The whole office was silent after what happened.

All around me, people were watching in silence, their expressions a mix of shock, confusion, sympathy, and a hint of satisfaction.

I calmly went to my desk, grabbed the box I'd prepared ahead of time, and started gathering my stuff.

I only had a laptop, a cup, a few books, and a potted cactus. I packed everything in three minutes.

Brynn rushed over, sounding both panicked and upset. "Nora, you're being too impulsive. I already told Mr. Jones the fine was only symbolic, and it would be made up next month in another way. Why would you—"

"No need, Brynn," I said and put the signed resignation copy on the desk. "I've already finished everything."

Brynn looked at the paper, her face going pale. She didn't know what to say.

I held the box and took one last look at the place where I had worked for three years.

It held my youth, my hard work, and once my dreams, but now I felt disgusted.

I headed for the door.

No one dared to stop me.

At the attendance machine, I took out my badge and scanned my fingerprint one last time.

My clock-out time was 5:32 p.m.

Then I casually threw my badge into the trash bin by the entrance.

As I stepped out of the building, the evening wind brushed against my face with a slight chill, but I felt easy and free.

I pulled out my phone, found Howard and Brynn's numbers, and blocked and deleted them.

Then I called my best friend, Cathy. "Hey, are you free tonight? I need someone to celebrate with."

"Celebrate what? Did you win the lottery?" Cathy asked.

I looked out at the sunset and smiled. "I quit."

At that moment, my phone buzzed. A bank message said my salary arrived, 600 dollars less than usual.

Right on time.

Whatever. That place and that money weren't worth anything anyway. I'd take it as the price I paid for being naive.

*****

Three months later, I'd already found a new job, and my life was back on track.

That morning, my phone started ringing nonstop.

It was an unknown number.

I hung up several times, but it kept calling back.

I checked my call history. The same number had called me more than thirty times in two hours, relentlessly.

I frowned and answered the call.

There came a voice I'd nearly forgotten, but somehow still painfully familiar.

It was Howard.

His voice was no longer calm. It was full of panic and desperation. "Nora, you finally answered. Please, come to the hospital right now. Sasha is ill again."

I looked at the unknown number on my screen, feeling indifferent.

I knew it was him. No one else would look for me in such a hysterical way.

My first reaction was to hang up and block him, but somehow, I picked up.

I wanted to hear how this man who used to be so high and mighty would sound now.

As soon as I picked up, Howard's voice came through the phone. It was filled with undeniable panic and despair. "Nora, you finally picked up. Please, you have to come to the hospital."

He wasn't the calm, distant boss anymore. He was only a father about to lose his daughter.

However, I didn't feel any sympathy.

I stayed silent, listening.

I could hear the chaotic noise on his end. Machines kept beeping in the background, nurses hurried past with quick footsteps, and his breathing came through the phone, heavy and fast.

Seeing my silence, he grew more desperate, his voice breaking. "Nora, are you listening? Please, say something.

"Sasha has had another emergency. Acute hemolysis. She needs an immediate transfusion. Only you have that blood type. Please save her."

I wasn't a doctor, but I knew how serious acute hemolysis could be.

My chest tightened for this innocent girl.

That was all.

"Mr. Jones," I finally spoke. My voice was soft and calm, like cold water poured over his burning anxiety. "We have nothing to do with each other anymore."

Howard paused, clearly not expecting this.

He probably expected me to question him, get angry, or take the chance to make demands. He didn't expect complete indifference.

"Nora, I was wrong before. I'm an asshole." He reacted immediately, lowering himself. "I'll pay you back double the 600 dollars.

"I'll give you 6 thousand. No, 60 thousand. If you come, I'll give you 150 thousand. Cash right away."

150 thousand was indeed a huge amount for someone like me. Three months ago, I might have been tempted, but now, I only found it ridiculous.