Janet’s Point of View
I stepped out of Tracy’s car, my heart beating fast in my chest. The tall building of Lakeview Private Hospital stood in front of me, all glass and shine. I wasn’t worried about what happened at the mall or even about digging up my past that I tried so hard to forget. It was this interview that made my stomach tight with knots.
My brother Jasper made it sound so easy. By getting the application letter for me. But still, I couldn’t help feeling a little bit tense. What if something goes wrong? What if I wasn’t good enough?. It has been a long time since I’m in this field.
Tracy touched my arm before I walked away from the car. “Remember, if anything goes wrong, I’m just one call away.”
I nodded, grateful. It was my first time trusting someone like this, opening up about my life. It felt strange but good.
“Thank you,” I said. “I’ll text you when I’m done.”
The hospital lobby was clean and bright. A woman at the front desk looked up as I approached.
“Hi, I’m Janet. I have an interview at 2 PM.”
The receptionist smiled, all polite and proper. “Of course, Ms. Janet. Please follow me.”
She led me to a quiet waiting area with dark green chairs and a small water fountain that made soft splashing sounds. The walls were painted a calm blue color, and there were plants in every corner.
“Director Alice will be with you shortly,” she said before walking away.
I sat down, keeping my back straight like my mother taught me. I tried to focus on the peaceful bubbling of the water feature,
but my mind was racing. This job would mean freedom from Rowan. A fresh start. My own money.
My hands shook a little, so I clasped them tightly in my lap. I looked around the room, trying to distract myself.
Ten minutes felt like forever, but finally, the door opened. A woman walked in, maybe in her late forties, with short gray-
streaked hair and a navy blue suit that looked like it cost a fortune. Her face was serious but not unkind.
“You are Ms. Janet, right?” she asked, looking at me with sharp eyes.
I stood up quickly, maybe too quickly, and extended my hand. “Yes, that’s me. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“I’m Alice, and I’m the director in charge of your interview. Thank you for coming in today.” Her handshake was firm and
brief. “If you may? Let’s talk in my office.”
I followed her down a hallway with artwork on the walls–real artwork, not the cheap prints most places hang. My heels clicked against the marble floor, sounding too loud in the quiet space.
Her office was bigger than my entire study room at Rowan’s house. One wall was all windows, looking out over the city. Another had shelves packed with books–psychology textbooks, reference manuals, and some novels too. Behind her desk hung a painting with swirls of blue and green that somehow made me think of the ocean.
The desk alone looks like it’s made from a single piece of wood. And that painting… I bet it costs more than a car. There’s a
faint smell in here too–jasmine tea, I think. The whole room feels important but not showy. Like someone who knows
they’re powerful but doesn’t need to brag about it.
“Please, have a seat,” Director Alice said, gesturing to a chair across from her desk.
I sat down, smoothing my grown. She opened a folder with my name on it and flipped through a few pages,
J
“Your academic record is excellent. Graduated top of your class, and also working as an intern at Gracewood Behavioral Clinic -that was very impressive.”
“Yes, thank you, ma’am,” I replied, managing a smile despite my nerves. “It was a formative experience. I worked under Dr.
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Bridge for six months.”
Her eyebrows lifted slightly. “Impressive. He speaks highly of you.”
