rrraksamam

We sat in silence. Her pleading eyes looking into mine. For some strange reason, I felt sorry for her. But I also felt a little angry – angry that I'd been tricked into this spot. Mother hadn't mentioned a word about any of this. And I thought I would finally get a vacation I so much deserved. Only to end up with this, here.

“Roy, will you stay?” Jessica asked. I shook my head, “No.” “Please?” “What makes you think I'd want to live next to a screaming ghost?” I asked her. “I don't want you to live here. Move in with me,” she replied. “What about the other apartments?” I asked. “Two of them serve as storage units. The one above hers is empty. I don't think you'd want to stay in it.” “And the floor above that?” “It's filled with servers,” she replied. “Why didn't you move there? The farther away from the ghost, the better,” I suggested. “I already considered that Roy. When I came here, they'd already put the servers there. Besides, nobody would've come to help move them down. The locals won't even enter the compound. And mother denied requests to send in manpower. Told me her hands were full and she didn't have anyone to spare,” Jessica replied.

“Why haven't you asked for a transfer?” I wondered. “I did. It was denied.” “So your only option is to quit?” “I can't. I'm stuck here Roy,” she said sadly. “What about the others who came here? Weren't they transferred somewhere else?” She shook her head, “Only the first few.” “What happened to the others?” “They were fired.” I was absolutely dumbfounded. “Fired?” “Yes. Let's just say that this is the last stop for people's careers, Roy. Those who end up here don't have anywhere else to go after that.” “Oh.” And that was all I managed to say.

So I'd finally hit rock bottom. A shit job with nowhere to go. And I thought it was a vacation! I shook my head. But why would Mother put me here? Had she no faith in my capabilities? Had my talents and abilities finally been replaced by someone younger? It was bound to happen some day anyway. I wished I had seen this coming. If I was to get out, I'd leave on my own terms. Because this – this was embarrassing.

As if she'd read my thoughts, Jessica reassured me, “Not you Roy. I asked for you to come here. You can leave anytime you want. The agency still has uses for you.” Uses. That's how the world had always operated. Things went smoothly as long as you were useful to someone. After that, you were on your own.

I closed my eyes. Decisions. Decisions. “Can I stay at a hotel or something?” I thought out loud. “Then I'd be here all alone,” Jessica replied, sadly. “Can't you stay at a hotel?” I asked her. “No,” she shook her head. “Alright,” I said. “Alright?” “I'll stay.” “With me?” she asked, hopeful. “Yeah. Will you help me pack?” “Yes!” She stood up and grabbed my hands, “Thank you Roy! I owe you one.” I shook my head, “You don't want to owe me anything.”