Seeking Solace
As Eleanor drove home, the weight of both Alex's accusations and Whitney's disappointment pressed heavily against her chest. The accusations echoed in her mind like a relentless drumbeat, each word a painful reminder of her perceived shortcomings.
"Selfish," Alex had called her, the word ringing in her ears like a bitter refrain. Was she truly selfish? Had she been blind to her own actions, oblivious to the hurt she might have caused?
Tears blurred her vision as she navigated the familiar streets, her thoughts a tumultuous whirlwind of self-doubt and regret. She couldn't shake the feeling of disappointment that lingered in the air, a heavy cloak of guilt draped over her shoulders. How could she have let things spiral out of control like this? How could she have hurt the people that cared about her without even realizing it?
As the hours passed and the darkness of night enveloped her, Eleanor found herself grappling with the demons of her own making. She replayed the events of the evening in her mind. It was supposed to be a nice night but she had fucked it up by being really fucked up.
Pulling into her driveway, she sat in the car for a moment, the weight of her emotions threatening to overwhelm her. She buried her face in her hands, the tears flowing freely now, unchecked and unrestrained. Each sob was a release, a cathartic outpouring of the turmoil that churned within her. Inside her quiet apartment, she collapsed onto the bed, the weight of her emotions threatening to crush her beneath their oppressive weight. She stared blankly at the walls, lost in a sea of swirling thoughts and unanswered questions.
Her trembling fingers hovered over her phone as she stared at Whitney's name, her heart heavy with regret. With a shaky breath, she pressed the call button, hoping against hope for some semblance of closure at least.The line rang once, twice, before clicking over to voicemail. Disappointment washed over her like a tidal wave, leaving her feeling adrift and alone. Frustration mounting, her thumbs flew across the screen as she composed a heartfelt message, pouring her soul into each word. But when she hit send, the response that came back was not one of understanding or forgiveness, but of seething anger and resentment. Whitney's words cut deep, slicing through Eleanor's fragile defenses like a knife.
"Can you let me be bitch? Stop calling and texting!! I'm done."
The sting of rejection burned hot against her skin, leaving her feeling raw and exposed. With a heavy sigh, she set her phone down, the weight of Whitney's words heavy in her chest. And as she stared at the blank screen before her, she couldn't help but wonder if she would ever find her way back to the person she had once been.
As the night stretched on, Eleanor found herself unable to find solace in sleep. Tossing and turning, her mind raced with thoughts of regret and self-doubt. She reached for the bottle, seeking numbness in the warmth of alcohol, hoping to drown out the cacophony of doubts that plagued her mind.
She resumed work the next morning which was her first day of her new role as supervisor, though with a bit of attitude and mood swings, she found herself immersed in the day-to-day operations of the hotel. One of her first tasks was to review the daily sales report with Edith, her former colleague.
"Good morning, Edith. Let's go over the sales report for yesterday," Eleanor said, motioning for her to join her in her office.
Edith nodded and followed her into the office, a sense of unease palpable in the air. As they reviewed the numbers, Eleanor couldn't help but notice an error in the sales figures from the previous day.
"Edith, these numbers don't add up. Did you double-check the calculations?"
Edith bit her lip nervously, feeling the weight of Eleanor's scrutiny.
"I... I did, Eleanor. I'm not sure what went wrong."
Eleanor's frustration grew as she examined the report more closely.
"This isn't acceptable. I expect accuracy and attention to detail from everyone on the team. We can't afford mistakes like this."
Edith's cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she struggled to find an explanation. "I'm sorry, Eleanor. I'll take another look and try to figure out where the error occurred."
Eleanor sighed, her tone softening slightly as she realized Edith's discomfort.
"Look, Edith, I know this is a lot to take in, especially with the transition to my new role. But we need to ensure that our reports are accurate and reliable. Can I count on you to double-check everything and make sure it's correct?"
Edith nodded earnestly, grateful for Eleanor's guidance despite her initial harshness.
"Yes, Eleanor. I'll make sure to triple-check everything from now on."
Eleanor offered a small smile of encouragement. "Good. I know you're capable of doing great work, Edith. Let's make sure we're all on the same page moving forward."
The rest of the day was uneventful as she was busy balancing records and making sure all was in order. It was almost dark when she looked up at the clock, surprised to see how fast the time flew. She stretched, then began to pack up as she thought about how she was going to spend her evening. She needed company, a little distraction from all the drama. She looked through her purse, then saw a card she had ignored for a while, the one from Greg.
She hesitated for a moment, her thumb hovering over the screen of her phone as she debated whether or not to reach out to him. Finally, with a sigh, she typed out a message and hit send.
"Hey Greg, it's Eleanor. You gave me a ride to work the other day, remember? How are you?"
She waited anxiously for a response, her heart racing with anticipation. After a few tense moments, her phone buzzed with a reply.
"Hey! Of course I remember very well. I'm doing great, thanks for asking. How about you? What's up?"
Eleanor felt a surge of relief wash over her as she read Greg's reply.
."I'm hanging in there," she typed back. "Just dealing with some work stuff. Was wondering if you wanted to grab a drink tonight? I need that little distraction you offered"
As she hit send, Eleanor couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt. Was she using Greg as a distraction from her problems? Maybe, but at this point, she didn't really care. A few moments passed before Greg's response came through.
"Sure, I'd love to! I know a little place downtown? Say, 7:00? I'll text you the address."
Eleanor smiled to herself, grateful for the opportunity to take her mind off things, if only for a little while.
"Sounds perfect," she replied. "See you there."
With plans in place for the evening, she felt a sense of excitement building within her. Maybe tonight would be the distraction she so desperately needed.