I Got Laid Off And They Celebrated Her Promotion Chapter 10

Six months later, the project I’d worked on officially launched.

The client praised me by name at the review meeting, and the head of the company put me in charge

of a new project team.

After the meeting, Emma handed me a document.

“Congratulations, Ms. Bennett. You’re officially a project lead.”

I took it and laughed.

“You don’t have to be so formal.”

“I absolutely do. You’re running one of the company’s key projects now.”

That evening, the project team went out for dinner.

Lily had checked my food allergies beforehand, and there was lemonade on the table for me.

Someone suggested a photo. Out of habit, I started to move aside.

Lily caught my arm.

“Hannah, stand in the middle.”

I looked at the picture on the phone screen, then took my place.

When the photo was taken, I stood at the very center.

Everyone looked into the camera.

Back home, Emma sent me the photo from our project celebration.

She asked if I wanted to post it online.

I thought about it, then replied:

[Go ahead.]

After she posted it, I didn’t check my phone for a long time.

Later, a mutual college friend told me Sophie had left her old company and taken a job in another

city.

Charlie and Noah still met occasionally, but they no longer invited Luke.

Luke had moved out of the apartment, too.

When the landlord came for the move–out inspection, he saw the mint plant in the corner and asked

if Luke wanted to take it.

Luke stood looking at it for a while, then shook his head.

The mint plant remained on the windowsill.

The old group chat of four was still there.

Its name hadn’t changed, and its group picture was the same old photo from before I left.

But no one ever mentioned another get–together.

After a long time, Sophie left the group.

Charlie left a few days later.

Noah sent one last message:

[Let’s all move on.]

Then he left, too.

Luke was the only one remaining.

He stared at the empty chat and remembered how I’d sat beside him, keeping track of everyone’s favorite foods and reminding them of birthdays.

Back then, he’d never imagined the group could end with only him in it.

At last, he understood that the five of us hadn’t fallen apart because one person left.

They’d pushed one of us out of the circle long before I left. Only after I was gone did the rest of them see the empty space.

Meanwhile, in my new city, I kept doing my work.

“Hannah, the client’s here,” Emma said, knocking on my office door.

“Okay. I’ll be right there.”

I closed the file and stepped out of my office.

When the elevator doors opened, Lily stood there holding a stack of documents.

“Hannah, the client said they want to hear your thoughts first.”

“Then let’s go in together.”

We walked side by side toward the conference room.

I used to follow other people, filling in what they’d overlooked. Now I led my own project team, with people behind me who wanted to do the work right with me.

This was the life I wanted.

I’d once placed too much value on staying. I thought that if I stayed with people long enough, they’d remember I had a place among them.

Later, I learned that if a place was really mine, I wouldn’t have to keep reminding anyone I belonged

there.

Someone was waiting for me on the other side of the door.

This time, I didn’t have to wait for anyone to turn around.