Ashley looked down at her phone and saw there was a notification for a last-minute Zoom invite—never a good sign. Ashley took a deep breath and continued getting ready for work.  Maybe it’s just a quick pre-brief on the new product launch, she thought, desperately trying to ward off the worst case. She glanced at her reflection, smoothed a stray hair, and gave herself a pep talk. Just review the pitch one more time. 

Ashley logged in to her work computer to go over her project for the new launce of home decor, her heart dropped as she read the popup that said, “Your access has been revoked.” Shaking and having an out-of-body experience, she didn’t know what to do next. Ashley could not believe the text she received. She tried to log in again, maybe she made a mistake. When the message appeared again, she knew the worst was about to come.

Ashley took a deep breath, trying not to cry, and opened the Zoom link. The HR manager, Becky, greeted everyone like it was a normal meeting, waiting for everyone to join the Zoom call. Becky always smiled at the worst times; it was unnerving, as Becky started the meeting with a prepared HR speech about how the company did not meet the financial outcome they had hoped, so unfortunately, you are all being laid off. Who knew that a simple phrase could have such an impact? Becky continued to speak in a friendly tone about next steps. Ashley was frozen as she watched her coworkers go through the same emotions she was feeling. Without even comprehending what Becky was saying, Ashley started spiraling at the news of how she was going to make money to pay her bills.

The call ended, but Ashley was unable to move as she started panicking. After some time, Ashley looked at her phone and saw a message from Sarah. “It is so unfortunate we got let go. What are your plans?” Ashley replied, “I am in shock; I didn’t see this coming.” Sarah texted back, “I have no idea what to do. I know they are paying us for the next four months, but it doesn’t give us enough time to find a new job.” Ashley didn’t know how to respond; she texted back, “I wish you luck, and you can add me as a reference.”

Ashley looked around her studio apartment that she loved so much, having spent time carefully decorating the walls adorned with photos of friends and travels, which now seemed to close in on her, each snapshot a reminder of happier times. Her mind raced with thoughts of uncertainty, thinking of what to do next. Melting into her couch, she reached for her laptop to update her resume. She hesitated for a moment, staring at the blank document, unsure of where to begin. 

For the first time in eight years working at Salt and Olive, Ashley didn’t know what to do next. She had been working her way up the corporate ladder to become the creative director at Salt and Olive’s Home division, pursuing her dreams of becoming the head of project development, being the head of all departments. Salt and Olive is a well-known brand in the food, home, and lifestyle sectors, and it also boasts a popular YouTube channel. Ashley had poured her heart and soul into her role, driven by a vision of creating innovative, inspiring content that resonated with audiences worldwide.

Pushing her laptop to the side and stumbling to the kitchen to make a coffee, more texts came in from her ex-colleagues who were also freaking out about their future. It is never easy to restart your life after you’ve worked so hard. No longer knowing how to respond, she sipped her coffee in silence, looking out of her window at her tiny view of her quaint New York neighborhood. The streets below bustled with the usual energy of a city that never seemed to pause, even as her world felt like it had come to a standstill. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee provided a small comfort, grounding her in the present moment. Ashley knew she needed a plan, but the weight of uncertainty felt paralyzing.

Her phone rang; it was Ben, one of her coworkers who was lucky enough not to be laid off. Ashley thought he might not know she had been let go, so she ignored the call. Ben called a second time, and Ashley regretfully answered with a tentative, “Hello?”

“Hey, Ashley,” Ben’s voice came through, warm and slightly hesitant. “I just heard the news. I’m so sorry about what happened. I can’t believe they let so many talented people go. How are you holding up?”

Ashley trying to process what lies ahead, grateful for his concern. “Honestly, I’m still in shock. It’s hard to comes to terms with everything. I poured so much into my work, and now I’m just trying to figure out what to do next.”

“I completely understand,” Ben replied sympathetically. “If there’s anything I can do to help, please let me know. I know some people in the industry who might have leads on openings, and I’d be more than happy to introduce you.” The prospect of help from Ben was reassuring. “Thank you, Ben; you have always been so helpful.” “Of course,” Ben said, his tone full of sincerity. Ashley felt a bit more hopeful about future job opportunities.

She thanked Ben and ended the call. Reaching for her laptop Ashley started typing out her resume. Pondering what she wants to do with her life. She has four months severance pay so she need to figure out how to make money fast. Ashely started typing out a to do list of everything she wanted to accomplish in the next few month. Happy with her list, Ashely decide to change and go for a walk. 

As she walked down East 10th Street, she observed the people around her, wondering about their jobs, their lives. Should I change careers? she wondered. Ashley only aspired to work as a creative director building brands she loved the prosses of creating visuals and products people enjoyed. Ashley was trying to calm her mind but all she could think of was the prospect of starting over.