The Junction
You usually leave work in a huff on Fridays, eager to start the weekend and escape the week’s stress. However, today is different. You decide to take a breather and sit at the junction of the corridor, waiting for the office clerk who asked for a ride to town. As you relax, you notice Sharon from a distance. Her head is held low, and she walks with a weak, unsteady step. Her demeanor contrasts starkly with the confident, jubilant person you saw just two days ago at Whistling Thorns Club when her boyfriend made a proposal.
“Sharon, will you marry me?” her boyfriend Kevin said, thick with emotion. Through a veil of happy tears, Sharon could only manage a shaky nod, with a joyous sob escaping her lips. The moment felt plucked from the pages of a well-worn romance novel, leaving Sharon breathless.
As she approaches, her face tells a story of distress. Concerned, you call out, “Whatever is the matter, Sharon?” Your eyes meet, and you see the weight of her troubles reflected in her gaze.
The Encounter
“I’m in mourning,” she replies, her voice trembling with sorrow. “You could call it that. Why do I have to move from here?” she blurts out, her eyes welling up with tears. For a moment, you are lost in the intensity of her emotions, but over the last three months, you have learned to pick up cues from her expressions. She said it in a way that you know it was not grief from the loss of a person, but rather a deep, unspoken pain. You quickly realize that Sharon has just found the perfect person to pour all her bottled sorrows on.
Sharon was recommended as an intern from the head office after a series of intense and competitive interview sessions. She’s one of those smart girls with an infectious energy, effortlessly juggling a multitude of tasks while maintaining an air of calm confidence. Her bright eyes are always alight with curiosity but today was not one of those days. Despite her demanding workload she always has time to catch up with us on the usually office banter.
“It’s not the people of South Africa I don’t like, or the weather, or just being away from my family that I can’t deal with,” she continues, her voice steady but her eyes revealing a flicker of uncertainty. She pauses, knowing you could easily figure that out. Then she throws a curveball at you, her expression suddenly determined.
“I want to decline the job offer.”
At this point, you’ve had it. Frustration bubbling beneath the surface, you take charge by asking her direct questions, your tone firm.
“Have your parents raised any objections?” you demand, your eyes locking onto hers.
“No!” she snaps back, her response quick and defensive.
“Passport and Visa?” you press.
“They’re okay,” she replies,
“Your friends don’t like the idea?” you ask, raising an eyebrow.
“No, they love it,” she admits, her shoulders sagging slightly.
“Are you in a relationship?” you inquire, noticing the briefest hesitation before she answers.
“Yes,” she says quietly, her eyes dropping to the floor.
“And what does he think?” you ask, softening your tone slightly.
“He’s okay with it,” she murmurs, barely audible.
Just as you’re about to quit, exhausted by the back-and-forth, she adds, almost as an afterthought, “I don’t believe in long-distance relationships.” Her voice trembles, revealing the true source of her inner turmoil.
The Reflection
You don’t either! But something tells you this might not be the best moment to share that thought. She’s saddened by the prospect of leaving him behind if she takes this job. After being together for some time now, she doesn’t believe things will remain unchanged. She worries about her absence. “You know what they say,” she retorts, “out of sight, out of mind.”
“I’m all set to go; I’ll wait near the car park entrance,” the office clerk alerts me. I walk away wondering, could she be right.
You’ve always believed that getting a job was a serious priority for fresh graduates. Apparently, it’s not that simple. Faced with the choice between a job you worked so hard to prepare for and leaving your boyfriend behind, what would you do?
Share your thoughts in the comments and share the story with someone if you have enjoyed it.
To be very honest lenny…I love love the story and uhm personally I would go for the job 😭in as much as it is a hard choice .I am currently in a long distance relationship,it is not easy but with time ,if both the parties are intentional about it , it will work out .
WOW! I WANT TO KNOW WHAT SHARON THINKS.
Big fan already….please proceed n keep me in the know
@yvonna, thanks for sharing and true so long as everyone puts in the effort it should work. Standby for more…