Returning to her previous town with Hanna, Bethany found herself navigating the rocky terrain of life after the laundromat where she worked shut down. The news of the closure hit hard, and Bethany quickly realized that the road ahead was fraught with challenges. The job hunt was brutal, each rejection chipping away at her resolve. Today, she was pinning her hopes on the fifth interview scheduled for later in the week, while Hanna, her bright and supportive 7-year-old daughter, attended her piano lessons.
Despite the hardships, Hanna remained Bethany's unwavering beacon of hope. Her support and innocent belief in her mother were the only reasons Bethany hadn't given up entirely. Hanna's piano lessons were not just a creative outlet for her but also a symbol of the normalcy Bethany was fighting to provide.
Feeling the weight of yet another rejection, Bethany entered a small coffee shop, a last resort to recharge with a cup of coffee. She needed something to perk her up for the gruelling task of continuing her job search. Ordering an espresso lungo, Bethany's weary eyes, marked by dark circles from countless sleepless nights, scanned the cafรฉ. Her pale skin contrasted sharply with the depth of her fatigue. She desperately needed the caffeine boost to power through the day.
Sitting down, Bethany pulled out the local gazette, which was now covered in red crosses marking the jobs she'd already applied for and been rejected from. She clung to the hope that one of the unmarked listings might be her next opportunity.
As she was about to pay for her coffee, a 'Help Wanted' sign near the barista's counter caught her eye. Summoning the last of her energy, she approached the counter.
"I'm sorry, I couldn't help but notice you are looking for help?"
she asked, her voice tinged with exhaustion and a slight hoarseness as she pointed towards the sign.
The barista looked up and, with a nod, went to fetch the manager. To Bethany's immense relief, the manager was more than willing to set up an interview date. As she waited for her coffee, Bethany felt a glimmer of hope. Maybe this would be the break she so desperately needed. She thanked the barista sincerely and joined the line to collect her coffee, clutching onto the small promise of a potential job.
Bethany's return to her hometown had been anything but easy so far. However, with Hanna by her side and a new opportunity on the horizon, she felt a renewed sense of determination, or so she hoped. She needed a form of hope. The female stared in the empty void at how interesting the wooden parque was as her mind started to blank as what would happen if she didn't get a source on income. She could not let the tiny human suffer. Not like she did. That life she swore that Hanna would never result in. Sometimes she always ends up thinking back to the what ifs... the what if Hanna actually went to Hanna's father? What if she never left and Hanna had a home with the biker gang who always provided for her?
So many what-ifs.
Lost in thought, she did not even realise that the barista was calling out her name for the coffee and the fact she was holding back a collecting line...