"Hello?"
"Miss Deloiraix, we're pleased to inform you—you've been selected for the position. Welcome aboard."
The words felt surreal. Rose blinked, trying to process them. The voice continued, a robotic warmth to the words. She'd gotten the job. The offer was hers.
But—something didn't feel right. She couldn't pinpoint it, but the excitement she thought would wash over her was absent, replaced by an unsettling quiet in her chest.
"Thank you," Rose murmured, hanging up without another word.
She sat for a moment, phone still in hand, staring at the screen. The room felt too still, too quiet. Her mind swirled with confusion, but her body, heavy with exhaustion, couldn't stay awake any longer.
After a long pause, her eyelids fluttered shut, and she drifted into a restless sleep, her head falling onto the desk beside the open laptop.
---
When Rose woke up, the morning light filtered through the curtains. Her neck ached from the position she'd slept in, and her face felt warm with the lingering pressure of the phone call. She blinked and rubbed her eyes, still half-dazed. The memories of the night before felt distant, like they belonged to someone else.
Slowly, she stood up, pushing herself away from the desk, the laptop still open in front of her. The room was quiet, save for the hum of the refrigerator from the kitchen.
She stretched, groaning as she walked toward the kitchen, her mind still foggy. Celeste was already there, humming softly as she prepared breakfast. The smell of eggs and coffee filled the air.
"Good morning," Celeste said cheerfully, turning to set a plate of scrambled eggs in front of Rose.
Rose didn't answer right away. Her mind was still caught on the phone call, the job offer, the suddenness of it all. She sat down at the table, absently picking up her fork, but not eating. Her thoughts were miles away.
Finally, she spoke, her voice quiet and uncertain.
"I got the job, Celeste," Rose said, almost as though she were still trying to convince herself.
Celeste paused, her eyes brightening in surprise. "Wait, really? That's incredible!"
Rose nodded slowly, a knot tightening in her stomach. "Yeah. They called this morning. Said I've been selected."
Celeste leaned forward, her gaze sharp. "That's amazing. So... what are you going to do with it?"
The question was simple, yet it sent a ripple of tension through Rose's chest. She hesitated, staring down at the cold eggs before her.
"I'm not sure," Rose admitted, her voice wavering. "Something about it doesn't feel... right. It's all happening so fast, and I don't know if I'm ready for it."
Celeste tilted her head, her expression softening with understanding. "It's okay to be uncertain, you know. You don't have to take it if you don't want to. But if you do, I think you'll figure it out."
Rose closed her eyes briefly, taking a deep breath. The weight of the decision pressed on her, but deep down, she knew she couldn't ignore the opportunity.
"I'll try," Rose said quietly, her voice firming. "I don't know what to expect, but I'll give it a shot."
Celeste smiled, a warm, reassuring smile. "That's the spirit. You'll make it work."