I sprinted down the stairs and towards my car, which was parked close to the company building. I had to be careful not to trip and fall, for the tears that had welled up in my eyes were blurring my vision. I got into the car and started the engine. I didn’t have a specific destination in mind, I just wanted to get away from there as fast as possible. With my mind still reeling after the shock of being fired, I asked myself, “Why me? What did I do to deserve the abuse they are subjecting me to?” I had always been a model employee to all intents and purposes. I had been commended by my superiors for my productivity and resourcefulness on numerous occasions. There was no reasonable explanation for what had just taken place. After losing my job, which constituted what my entire life had pivoted on up to that very moment, I was at sixes and sevens on what step to take next.
Suddenly, the car started sputtering and came to a halt. With all that had transpired, I hadn’t been paying attention to the warning signs and had run out of gas. Fortunately, I could pull over before the car left me stranded in the middle of the road. The street I was on wasn’t a very busy one and I hadn’t had time to distance myself but for a few kilometers from my former workplace.
I was still considering my options, when another car showed up. The driver stopped right next to me, rolled down the window and asked me if I needed help.
I filled him in on the situation and he, in turn, asked me whether I was sure the problem with the car lay in it having run out of fuel, instead of in it having broken down.
“I think so,” I replied.
He was a handsome man in his late thirties. Next to him, sat a beautiful woman wearing a pair of dark sunglasses that covered half her face. He got out of his car, went to mine, and started checking it out. While he was at it, a phone started ringing in his car. The girl picked it up. A few seconds into the conversation, she let out a muffled scream and burst into tears.
“What’s going on? Who called?” he asked her.
“It was your mother, Adam. She fainted in the street and has had to be rushed to the hospital.”
The guy paled. He got into the back of his car and started wheezing. He seemed about to suffer a panic attack. Next, in a rather unexpected turn of events, the girl asked me if I could drive them to the hospital, for she didn’t own a license. It took me but a second to react. After locking mine, I jumped behind the wheel of their car.
We arrived at the hospital just a few minutes later. The guy and girl I had just met ran to the door and left me alone inside the vehicle. I was completely bowled over at how things were unfolding. After parking and locking their car, I followed them inside to return the keys. Although I hadn’t met the guy’s mother, I really hoped she would make a full recovery. I found them talking to the doctor. Apparently, my prayers had been answered; she would be back on her feet in no time.
I thought it best to leave at that point, but the guy asked me to stay. We went to the cafeteria and sat down with some coffees. After spending a while getting to know each other, I opened up about what had happened to me at work. The guy then looked at me and said, “You won’t believe it, but we are actually looking to hire someone of your specific field of expertise, and I would be honored if you would consider working for our firm!”
Written by Noha El Masry.