Submission 1

The person who submitted this wishes to be anonymous. They told me their story. Now I tell it to you. Names of the real company and people have been changed as requested.

Two years ago.

Ashley is working her shift from six in the morning to four in the afternoon. She operates a CNC gas cutting machine at Tristen Co. Every day she and her machine create material out of thin air, at least that’s how it seems. From dental parts, to high pressure equipment, she creates. At the end, the metallic pieces shine as a testament to her skills, ready to go on to the world.

Usually, she doesn’t pay attention to her surroundings. She drinks her red bull from her thermo filled with ice and focuses on the parts. Unless it is lunch break, she pays attention to the people.

She is enveloped in this world of fluorescent lights. And all of a sudden, a meteorite lands in front of her.

People. She sees first the legs of them. She is leaving her glance from the machines for a moment. People are walking towards the front of the room. Before she does the same, she sees the concern in the faces of the other men and women.

“! Se está muriendo!” Someone screams.

It’s Roberto. He’s holding his hand to his heart. She sees it from a distance because people are grouping around him trying to see what is happening.

Everything happens fast. So fast, that they all did not realize how long they had been standing there as the people acted. Two other people trying their best to revive him. Then paramedics.

They all return to their posts. Minutes after, they are given the day due to the incident. They all returned to their days. Then the next day was announced cancelled in memory of Roberto.

She couldn’t do it. She couldn’t focus on the parts like normal. She couldn’t just pretend nothing had happened. The other people had quit. Everyone understood why after both of them had tried to save his life. But her?

She had stood there like everyone else. This time though she was going to act. She could not just use the machine while remembering the face Roberto had made when he died.

Nothing. No commemoration of his passing. No tribute to all the time he had poured, the years, to the company. Barely, given a day.

That’s what would happen. That’s what would have happened if it had happened to her.

She left her job without anger, without sadness. With peace and a little grief.

She wondered if she did the right thing. Money was tighter, but her mental health more abundant and stronger than before. Something had grown within.

She did what was right for her, what would be right with many. She was honest with herself, bold enough to snatch her honesty more closely, and walk away.... from the place that was trying to eat it.

Not many have the opportunity to be able to do that. To give ourselves that kindness, to nurture the spirit.

Wish you the best, anonymous.

-Christian Vazquez