DISCLAIMER:
These stories are inspired by Felicia’s colorful 2017. If the reader prefers, the short stories/blogs or parts of it may be regarded as fiction. But as Ernest Hemingway said, there is always the chance that fiction may throw some light on what has been regarded as fact.
The One With The Umbrella: Part 1
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I was hurt, but mostly in shock. I still
could not believe that the man I was supposed to marry is with someone else.
Even more shocked that I found out through social media, considering we are two
educated professionals with very respectable jobs, each with two children, my
Samantha and Bryan, and his Nadine and David. Four "hipsters" who have bonded like siblings. We were just a
paper short of becoming a family.
Exactly 6 days later, on a Monday
morning, I received a phone call from Helen, a co-worker, who is also a dear
friend. She said that she has been laid off, along with a few more of our
colleagues. Helen was very upset and so was I. Especially because this time, it
included 7 people from our department- people I
am very fond of... my work family. Then it dawned on me, I did not get a phone call
from my boss, Scott, our Dean. He usually calls me and the other directors, and
gives us a heads up when someone in our
department leaves. For a moment, I got nervous. But then again, I always felt confident
about my position, and my colleagues always said I am one of the unexpendable ones. I called Dean Scott to ask who else got this news.
He said `I was actually looking for you. I thought you started your summer course today.
I wanted to tell you in person that you were one of the 7. I’m sorry.It was a very difficult decision.”
I do not remember the next 2 minutes of this conversation, but as soon as I hung up, I panicked. I called my best friend of 4 years… John Smith (Don’t grit your teeth just yet. Remember, this was May 2017. I did not know about the Lili situation or even Marlene’s house in Connecticut- See Blog Archive, The One When I Spent My 1st Weekend in Connecticut. All I know is that, he has a “new” girlfriend, perhaps just a fling. After all, we were “on a break,” except that I was still getting sweet text messages from him, and the flowers, chocolates, and a cleaning lady service just a week ago.See Blog Archive, The One When I Found Out
I do not remember the next 2 minutes of this conversation, but as soon as I hung up, I panicked. I called my best friend of 4 years… John Smith (Don’t grit your teeth just yet. Remember, this was May 2017. I did not know about the Lili situation or even Marlene’s house in Connecticut- See Blog Archive, The One When I Spent My 1st Weekend in Connecticut. All I know is that, he has a “new” girlfriend, perhaps just a fling. After all, we were “on a break,” except that I was still getting sweet text messages from him, and the flowers, chocolates, and a cleaning lady service just a week ago.See Blog Archive, The One When I Found Out
I called the one person who always
made me feel better during times like this, except I never had it this bad. I
never lost a job in my life. And this is a job I loved, a job with people who I look
forward to working with every day for 10 years.
John did not pick up the call. I found out
later that he was in a meeting. I called my 22-year old son, Bryan, and then my sister,
Eva. I was crying and freaking out. Samantha
is going to college in 3 months, I have a mortgage, 3 more years of car
payments, a 5-figure credit card bill (I just built a patio for my future
family of 6- (See Blog,The One With the Summer Surprises), and my brother, who I am supporting in grad school has 2 more years to go. Bryan could not believe it either, but he was
very calm on the phone. He said “ Mom, if you need me there, let me know. I can leave work now.” I told him he didn't have to, and that I’ll just wait for him when he
comes home at 5:30pm. He ended our conversation with “Don’t worry, mom. You have a great resume. I love you.”
I was still in a panic mode, and no
one was home with me except for our 18-year old cat, Maggie. I called John's daughter, Nadine next. She is family to me, and so am I to her. We actually just had a
venting and bonding moment a few days ago when she slept over our house on Bryan’s birthday. She too, was shocked that this was all happening to me. She was her
usual sweet and wise 19-year old “old soul”. She said that she will call her dad
and make sure he calls me back, which John did.
It was so good to hear John's voice. I was so upset with the news I just received, it's like I forgot what I found out just last week. It was only about 10 minutes of a conversation, but he
was so supportive. He even started guiding me through the unemployment process. Of course, I can manage all that, but I was still
so distraught and overwhelmed, I could not think straight. Also, I was not paying
attention to his directions, as I was still replaying in my ears the sentence he said at the beginning of our conversation, “ Honey, I will help
you. Don’t worry, we will get through this together.” The word "honey" never
sounded so sweet and so comforting. I kept crying. I told him, "I just lost you last week, now I lost my job too." He said, "You did not lose me" (Remember these words for later). He also said that he will come after work and may bring
Nadine with him.
One week ago, my heart was broken. A few hours ago, I received another news that crushed me. But now, John is coming to see me! Everything will be alright.
To be continued... The One With The Umbrella: Part 2
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One week ago, my heart was broken. A few hours ago, I received another news that crushed me. But now, John is coming to see me! Everything will be alright.
To be continued... The One With The Umbrella: Part 2
To get updates on when the next "The One..." will be posted, click SUBSCRIBE above or follow Felicia on




Your COMMENTS are appreciated,and please SHARE with your friends and followers as well. Thank you!
Now, to my readers… As heartbreaking as these may all sound, remember that my blog’s title is Bye Felicia, Hello Life. The “Hello Life” parts will be blogged about, (some are already in “The One With The Summer Surprises.”) But as writer Octavia Butler said, “ You don't start out writing good stuff. You start out writing crap… thinking it's good stuff, and then gradually, you get better at it.”
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