Growth

The steady tick-tock of dozens of clocks filled the small workshop, a symphony of time keeping perfect rhythm. Emilia Frost’s nimble fingers worked with practiced precision as she adjusted the delicate gears of a pocket watch. Her brow furrowed in concentration, she barely registered the chiming of the hour. “Emilia?” Her father’s weak voice called from the adjacent room. “Is that you, my dear?” Hastily, Emilia set down her tools and hurried to Theodore Frost’s bedside. The once-renowned clockmaker was a shadow of his former self, his skin sallow and his frame gaunt beneath the bedcovers. ...

Mira Chen stared at the blinking cursor on her computer screen, willing inspiration to strike. The sleek lines of her latest building design refused to coalesce, remaining stubbornly fragmented in her mind. She sighed, pushing back from her desk and rubbing her temples. The muffled sounds of the architecture firm drifted through her office door - phones ringing, printers whirring, the low murmur of voices discussing projects far more exciting than hers. Mira’s gaze drifted to the window, where fat raindrops streaked down the glass, mirroring her mood. ...

Mira Chen stared at the blinking cursor on her monitor, willing it to magically populate her spreadsheet with the elusive insights her boss demanded. The harsh fluorescent lights of the open-plan office buzzed overhead, a constant reminder of another day trapped in corporate purgatory. She sighed and pushed her glasses up her nose, glancing around at her coworkers. Most were gathered around Ethan’s office, drawn like moths to the flame of his booming laugh and exaggerated gestures. Mira’s stomach clenched as she caught sight of Zoe in the center of the group, her perfect white smile gleaming as she regaled them with some anecdote. ...

Mira Chen’s fingers hovered over her keyboard as she stared at the blinking cursor on her screen. The office around her hummed with the usual Monday morning activity, but something felt off. She couldn’t quite put her finger on it, but an unsettling sensation prickled at the back of her neck. Shaking her head, Mira tried to focus on the task at hand. As the newest member of the IT team at Pinnacle Solutions, she was determined to prove herself. She’d only been here two weeks, and already she felt like she was drowning in a sea of unfamiliar faces and complex systems. ...