Chapter 1
To our elusive glances that we won't forget,
to all our whispered words and broken promises;
And to you who, hopefully, will never read this
BRINLEY
My employer is yelling at me to move.
Say that I am confused is an understatement. A moment ago I was sleeping on my uncomfortable couch and now Loren keeps talking to me without even taking a breath.
''You're almost here, aren't you?''
That's the only thing I'm able to catch of the call, and I need a few seconds to understand why she's so pissed off at seven in the morning. Then my gaze lands on the calendar hanging on the kitchen wall and I almost have a heart attack when I realise what day it is. It gets worse when I look at the clock.
That's why she's pissed off. It is not seven in the morning, but already nine.
In a few hours my career could change, and I'm still in my pyjamas with dark circles digging into my face and my heart racing.
''There's been a setback, I'll be there shortly,'' I lie.
I get up abruptly dropping some printouts from the project, and trying not to step on the laptop on the carpet I run to the bathroom to settle down.
I usually take at least a couple of hours in the morning to get ready, so I can't understand how I could find myself in such a situation today.
It's actually because I stayed up late last night fine-tuning every little detail of the photo shoot I've been working on for a month. It's the decisive project, or at least that's what Loren called it when she awarded it to me as best intern of the year.
As I think of all the ways it could go today I am getting into my car, ready to plunge into the streets already blocked by the thousands of cars stopped at traffic lights. The morning traffic in New York allows me to think back to the words that have been an inspiration to me.
"It's your chance Brinley you've come a long way, crossed a continent at only twenty-two years old and completed in an outstanding way important projects that I am usually more willing to assign to professionals. You are one of the best interns here and you know that if it was up to me, that place in our photography office would already be yours, but this time you'll be evaluated by the external committee, impress them and show them your passion and skills. Either way, it was a real blessing for us to have you here."
I take advantage of the mirror in the large lift to fix my brown waves and tighten my grip on the sealed folder containing my future.
When the doors open, with a quick step, I head for the meeting room, while a sense of anxiety assails me.
I cannot let this moment spoil me, so I take a deep breath and enter the room with an apologetic smile at the examiners.
They are three very elegant men who, as soon as they notice my arrival and after proceeding with the classic introductory pleasantries, give me their undivided attention.
Throughout the interview they seem genuinely interested, which only increases my hope of being hired. An hour and a half passes since the first shots are shown on the big screen and at the end of the presentation everyone congratulates me.
I was the last intern to be examined, which is why the name of the person who got the job will soon be known.
In the hall Loren is silent next to me, she understands my tension and also knows that talking would not help.
I keep tapping my toe on the floor without taking my eyes off the mahogany door to the meeting room.
Eventually the door opens and the examiners approach us.
I jump to my feet and nervously run my palms over the fabric of my skirt. At this point the possibilities are two: either I'm inside or all my efforts have been in vain.
It is the taller one of them who speaks. He looks at me for a few seconds and after giving me a shy smile he says,
''Thank you for your time, Miss Davies, unfortunately we feel another intern is better suited for this position.''
