Tim glances around the room. “For the majority of you, nothing will change at all. You’ll go about your business as you do now. Finance, obviously there will be some changes with new ownership at the helm, but once all the accounts are transferred over, we should be in the clear.”
I mentally process what extra work might be coming my way. Maybe this will be a good change. At least it’s not more of the same old thing, right?
Mr. Fitzpatrick says a few more words that I think are meant to make us feel more secure, then they tell us that we’re free to go back to work.
As I’m walking behind Ned, Tim calls, “Hattie, can you stick around for a moment?”
My stomach slides down my leg like a child on a waterslide.
Why me? So it wasn’t my imagination.
My coworkers file out, some of them giving me questioning glances and the others pitying ones.
Maybe he just wants me to handle something regarding the changeover for the finance team? At least that’s what I’m hoping for.
“Come have a seat.” Tim gestures to the chair at the conference table to the right of where he sits at the head.
I do as he asks, attempting to maintain my composure as though I’m not worried about what’s coming.
“There’s no easy way to say this, Hattie. I’m afraid we’re going to have to let you go.”
I’m sure my mouth falls open. I’m positive I’m staring at him. But he doesn’t even let the words sink in before he continues.
“The new owner wants to cut our personnel expenses, and he insists that we’re overstaffed in finance. It was decided that the person with the least amount of seniority would be the one to go.”
Tears well in my eyes, and I open my mouth, but nothing comes out.
“It’s not personal at all. If it were up to me, I’d offer Marjorie an early retirement package and keep you, but the new owner didn’t want to do that.”
“I… I…” Still nothing comes out of my mouth.
My mind is too busy considering all the implications of losing my job for me to form complete sentences. How long will it be until I find a new one? How long will the small savings account I have keep me afloat? How will I be able to help my parents with the medical bills if I don’t have a job?
A cold sweat breaks out under my clothes as Tim carries on, though I don’t hear the words.
I’ve just been fired.
Laid off technically, I suppose, though it doesn’t hurt any less. Plus, the end result is the same—I’m unemployed. I haven’t felt this low since everything went down with Rich at the end of college.
Tim stands from his chair and extends his hand, so I do the same, assuming I must have been dismissed. Though my hand connects with his, I feel numb, and I swear I can’t even feel our palms pressed together.
“Thank you for all the hard work you’ve done for the company these past three years. Please feel free to use me as a reference on your resume, Hattie. You were a great employee.”
A great employee who has just been laid off. A lot of good that did me.
“I’m not going to embarrass you by walking you out or anything, but if you could go collect your personal belongings from your desk and leave, that would be great. I know you’d never do anything to sabotage the company.”
I nod numbly, unable to do anything else.
I feel as if I’m floating as I make my way out of the conference room. I can’t even feel my legs. Diverting toward the copy room, I find a box of paper that only has a few reams left in it and empty it, carrying the box to my desk.
No one pays me any attention until I remove items from my desktop and place them in the box. There’s not much to take—some pictures of me with my parents, a plant, and a plaque with a quote from one of my favorite books. It’s sad, really, that this is what constitutes my life when other people’s spaces are overflowing with personal effects.
Once I grab everything off my desk, I open the bottom drawer and pull out my purse, tossing it in the box as well. I hear the murmurs start around the office, and I can’t decide whether I should go around and say goodbye to everyone or whether I should just leave.
Marwa saves me from having to make the decision when she approaches. “What happened? Why did Tim want to talk to you after?” Her dark eyes are filled with concern.
“I’ve been laid off.” My voice comes out raspy.
