Ane sat in her room, her eyes fixed on the glowing screen of her laptop. The email before her delivered news that would have normally sent shockwaves through her world—she had been pushed into an early retirement from the company she had dedicated years of her life to.
The details were murky, but Ane knew the root cause—a lapse in judgement, a decision made in haste a month prior. Now, the consequences had come crashing down, and she found herself abruptly severed from the professional identity that had once consumed her.
But in this moment, Ane's thoughts were consumed by her daughter, Isabelle. She had learnt of the troubles Isabelle was facing in the United States, and the weary, strained tone in Isabelle's voice during their last conversation had wrenched at Ane's heart.
