At Grand Little interiors company.Rita was in the main hall on the ground floor, talking to the employees. She just announced the members of the newly created second core team.And Sherry’s name was not among them.It broke her into tears.“Those who didn’t get into the core team, keep working hard,” Rita said.Rita then went to her room on the first floor. Edward and Harvey were in the room.Right after she entered, Harvey said, “I have spoken to the people of the Phantom Dream company, and they have agreed to sack someone because he refused to come to the office despite repeated requests.”“This is great,” Edward grinned and looked at Rita. “Send him the memo, explaining why he’s lost his job.”Rita frowned, understanding why her father wanted her to send the email.At the same time, Sherry was still crying in her cubicle. She had worked hard for the past three months and really hoped that she might get promoted.“What more must I do to get promoted? How much harder must I work?” s

The gust of wind was strong enough to cause the leaves to float about in the air.When Rita walked out, she was a bit surprised by the wind, and she was not able to see ahead.Caleb stood right where he was, as his senses had sharpened to the extent he could hear the wingbeats of the birds flying away in the distance.He could hear the squirrels fighting over food inside a tree’s burrow.He could hear the gears in a car shifting, a child’s laughter across the street, a fat man’s silent fart, and even the sound of a street dog quietly licking its balls.He could hear and isolate all these sounds that were happening at the same time.It was as if the time itself slowed down.Caleb quietly walked and went to his car.“A new car, aye?” Rita smiled. “It looks great, though you look better.”Caleb could hear her voice all the clearer now. The ups and downs of her voice, and the depth of it.“Do you still have feelings for Sherry?” Rita asked.Caleb raised his eyebrows. “Why would you think

As Caleb was leaving the cemetery, a casket was being brought in, with the bagpipers playing a dirge in the back.Caleb waited until the procession passed by, and then he got into the car.He had overheard some people say that the person died because the hospital could not arrange the blood in time.He went to a clinic and donated a quarter liter of blood just because he wanted to.The doctor even complimented Caleb, saying that his body is functioning perfectly from the blood report he got, and that it was rare to see such healthy people these days.Caleb did not say anything.He could have easily bragged about himself, but he did not.For the past hundred days, Caleb had lived a priestly ascetic life devoid of television, savory foods and other pleasures.The months of assiduous labor rewarded him with his past glory, his past appearance, and he could now look in the mirror and not hate what he sees.His changed outward appearance surely assuaged some of his fears, but he was yet to

Caleb’s car stopped outside Powell music studio.He wanted to enter the library in that place, but the time wasn’t right yet.He remembered asking his father why his mother left them.His father told him, “Your mom doesn’t like my songs. She only acted like she did.”Caleb didn’t quite understand what those words meant at the time. But as time passed, he realized that his mom left home because his father wasn’t successful, and she found another man, a rich man and didn’t think twice to abandon her family.Caleb checked some information online on his mobile.The best three songs ever released by Powell studio were: Green Lights, High on Love, and Heart on Fire. They have become recognized all over the world and were considered to be among the all-time classics.All three of these songs were written and composed by Caleb’s father, Ronnie Cole. They were stolen from him and were released through Powell studio.The man behind that whole incident was Leah’s father, Ricky Powell, the man wh

In the evening.Before the work hours ended, Christina came to Sherry and gave her the promotion letter. “Congratulations. It’s official now. You’re a core team member.”Everybody congratulated her, and she felt more than a bit overwhelmed. These were the same people who said she would get stuck in her role forever, but now, they were praising and congratulating her. Nevertheless, success was speaking for itself, so she happily appreciated their wishes.Sherry then gave Christian an emotional hug.She honestly never thought she’d get into the core team after Mike was fired and Caleb became the chief designer.But she didn’t expect Caleb to recognize her efforts and give her a chance, even though she had not only refused his proposal but also used him and humiliated him a few times.She even put a drug that made him go for the runs. Even so, he still helped her when she was feeling at her lowest.“You’ve worked here for a long time,” Christina told Sherry, “but it is still a new start