Cutoff Joy
“Why is it so hard to get a job? Why??” Tania groaned, collapsing onto her bed.
She reached for her phone and dialed her best friend, Emma.
“Sorry, the number you dialed is currently not reachable…”
“Shit!” she hissed, flinging the phone to the foot of the bed.
She curled into herself, muttering, “It’s going to be fine, girl. It’s gonna be alright. God is in control. His timing is the best.”
She patted her shoulder, half-laughing, half-crying. A mess. A hopeful mess.
Then, her phone rang.
She sprang up, grabbing it like a lifeline.
“Emma,” she whispered, voice cracking. “Today didn’t go well.”
“Why do strange things keep happening right when I’m close to being happy? It’s always like... like a cutoff joy.”
“Baby, listen to me,” Emma said gently. “You’re overwhelmed, I get it. But why don’t you leave it to God to handle, huh? I know what you’re about to say, but girl, what happened? I called to check in. Today was your final interview, right?”
Tania sniffled, rubbing her nose. “Forget that interview.”
“Girl! You sounded like you were crying a second ago.”
“I wasn’t crying because of the interview,” Tania said, voice low. “I was just mad. I shouldn’t have quit my last job. But that boss? Nah. I couldn’t take it anymore. Thank God I moved, took a year off… but now I’m bored and broke. It’s depressing.”
Emma chuckled. “Tania,” she said, “so tell me, what happened at HQ?”
“Gravitas? Pfft. First, I was late, for like... four minutes late, thanks to the stupid rain. Then during the panel, I got this weird vibe. There was a man at the corner of the room. I didn’t see him at the first interview. He just sat there, silent… watching. Staring.”
“Creepy?”
“No. Not creepy. Intense. Like… I don’t know, something felt off. And then I challenged one of their interview questions. Told them their internal comms strategy needed restructuring. The room froze. Except for him. He… smiled.”
“Wait, smiled?”
“Yeah. Like he was enjoying it. But the others looked pissed. He could be the janitor or the CEO. Honestly, I don’t even care.”
Emma laughed. “Only you would sass the CEO of Gravitas Corp mid-interview.”
“It wasn’t sass. It was professional honesty.”
“Okay, Miss Professional Honesty. We move. God’s got you.”
“Amen.” Tania sighed. Her voice dropped to a whisper.
“Emma… I miss Derrick. I wish he were still around. I just miss him today.”
“She misses her crush,” Emma teased.
“Girl, shut up.” They both burst out laughing.
“I just need a miracle,” Tania said, staring at the ceiling like it might blink back with answers.
The line went quiet.
Then Emma said softly, “Maybe it’s already on the way.”
“I doubt it,” Tania murmured with a weak laugh. “All I ever get are rejection emails and false hope. I’m tired of being almost there.”
“God’s delays aren’t His denials, babe.”
“Yeah, well… if He’s listening, now would be a good time to show up.”
She exhaled deeply. “When will you be back?”
“You miss me?” Emma teased.
“No. I don’t.”
“Liar. I’ll be back Monday. I’ll come straight to your place from the airport.”
“Whatever. Bye. Take care of yourself.”
She ended the call, a faint smile tugging at her lips.
Then she lay back on the bed, eyes heavy. Just a second to rest.
