Chapter 5 - Recovery and a New Start

* * * One Week Later * * *

“Let me get your bags,” I say as Scott struggles to get out of the car. His leg is in pot and he’s struggling to use his crutches.

“I’ll help,” Pavan says.

“You really don’t need to do this, Miss Emma,” he says shyly.

“I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’ve considered you a friend for a long time and you also saved my life. It’s time for me to step up and be the friend you need. I should have done it sooner,” I tell him honestly.

“I wouldn’t have accepted it before,” he replies truthfully.

I know I’ll be eternally grateful and indebted to Scott for several lifetimes. Once Pavan leaves, I tell Scott I’m going for a shower. I spend what feels like hours sitting in the bath under the torrent of water as my tears escape. This is what I’ve resorted to since it happened, crying in the shower and letting the water wash my tears away.

“Miss Emma, can we talk?” Scott says as he taps on the bathroom door.

“I’ll just be a minute,” I tell him and turn off the shower. I dry and put on my pyjamas and dressing gown, and make my way to the living room.

“Miss Emma, I’m not the best with words so I apologise if I upset you…..” he hesitates and looks around the room, at anything but me as he ponders his next words. “I think we should look at therapy. The trial will be hard, Mark and his lawyer will look at blaming you and trying to make you look bad. I think talking to someone will help.”

“I’ll go if you go. Something made you choose the streets, so maybe it’s time you got help too.”

“Deal.”

*********

It’s been just over a year since the night that changed my life. I’ve had periods of denial, anger and grief as I mourned the part of me that died that night. And I went through those stages again after the trial. I sobbed for weeks on end over the lies that Mark told about me and also about Scott. Therapy helped more than I could ever explain, but I still feel like something needs to change to move forward.

Scott needed physiotherapy to recovery from his injuries, but now looking at him it’s like it never happened. But I know he carries internal scars as do I.

As soon as he was able to walk again he found himself a job and has even reached out to his family once again. He’d been grieving the loss of his brothers in Afghanistan. The IUD that had taken out their vehicle had also destroyed their bodies. It had been Scott that had found them and had tried to save two of them.

“I’ve been thinking. If you can start again then so can I. I’m going to look for another job, mine is tied in with the person I was when it happened. Fresh start and new beginnings to help me heal,” I tell Scott over dinner.

“Hand your notice in Emma, I can hold down the fort until you get your new beginning,” he smiles.

“No. I can’t let you do that. Something will come up.”

“Miss Emma, you paid for everything when I first came here. You gave me my life back. Let me do the same for you.”

“Are you sure?”

“Of course. We’re friends and that’s what friends do.”

“Thank you. Will you help me look?”

“Now?”

We sit browsing the jobs and I’m drawn to marketing. I have no clue why, but I just feel this is my new start. “I’ve been thinking, I want to study counselling and help veterans who are struggling like I was,” Scott tells me.

“I think that’s great and I’m sure they’d feel more comfortable talking to someone who has seen what they have seen and felt what they have felt,” I say truthfully.

“This one here. Herman Brown. No experience needed just the right attitude towards work and a willingness to learn,” Scott says as he pushes his phone in my face.

*****

“Emma,” the receptionist calls.

Shit. That’s me.

“Thank you,” I manage to say. I’m a wreck. I can’t remember the last time I interviewed. The only thing I know about marketing is the bits I’ve read online. I’m out of my league.

“Thank you for coming in,” an older lady says. I’m sure she introduces herself and her colleague but I can’t hear it over the thumping of my heart. “Tell us about yourself.”

“My name is Emma. I began working in a bank as an apprentice cashier and then studied for CeMAP to become a mortgage advisor. I like reading, biking and recently I’ve started making clay figurines…” I begin to waffle about my likes and dislikes. I know I’m talking too much.

“Why are you interested in a career in marketing?”

“If I’m honest, I found myself needing a change. A new start in life and after browsing the job market I felt drawn to the marketing ads. After some online research I decided that this is the path I need to take.”

“Could we ask why you feel you need a fresh start at this point in your life?”

“I experienced a traumatic event. An assault. I lost my identity and sense of who I was. I’ve spent the last year rebuilding myself and realised that my goals and focus have also changed in that process. I’m not who I was, and I’m happy with that. Sorry, I’m not sure how to explain that. But please know I didn’t make this decision lightly.”

“Thank you for sharing when you didn’t have to. I completely understand,” the nice older lady says.

“What is a marketing trend or campaign you liked?” The man asks me, back to business.

“I really liked the recent Nike advert that empowers women. Showing them as strong athletes and capable beings. The kind of woman you’d want the younger generation to look up to and aspire to be. It really resonated with me and affirmed the direction I was taking with its ‘I can’ message.”

“What motivates you?”

“My desire to prove myself, my drive to complete my journey of self discovery. I thrive in fast paced environments and from the research I conducted, this role would keep me on my toes and continuously push me to improve myself.”

“What are your hobbies and interests? I think you covered that one in your about you answer. Do you have any questions for us?”

“How long have you been with the company?”

“We’ve both been here since the company opened. Geoff here is the founding CEO and I was one of the first marketing managers.”

“Is this a new role or am I filling the position of someone else?”

“The person you’re replacing has been promoted to manager. It’s a new team we are putting together due to our continued expansion. I think you’d get along with the others perfectly and looking at your CV, your skills and experiences would complement the team.”

The rest of our discussion passes in a blur. I’ve probably ruined my shot by being too talkative but I’m hoping they can give me some good feedback for my next interview.

“I’m sure it wasn’t as bad as you’re making out,” Scott tells me after I explain my waffling to him.

“My word vomit just wouldn’t stop. There’s no chance in hell. Excuse me, I’ll just use the toilet before dinner is ready.”

“She won’t be a moment, if you’d be ok to hold the line..” I hear Scott say as I leave the bathroom. I notice he has my phone to his ear and a smile on his face.

‘Herman Brown’ he mouths as he hands my phone to me.

“Hello. Emma speaking.”

“Emma, hi. It’s Julie at Herman Brown. It was lovely to meet you today. I’m calling to inform you that we’ve finished our interviews for the role.”

“Thank you. I understand I have. I experience and I more than understand that you’ve chosen someone with experience….” I begin to say.

“Emma. You’re right, there were several with experience in the field…. However, none of them were as likeable as you. This business is 80% people skills and you’re a natural at holding conversation and you have a welcoming appeal. If you’re willing to accept the training, we’d love to employ you.”

“OH MY GOD!! REALLY,” I squeal.

“Yes really. When would you be free to come and complete the induction paperwork?”

“Now? Tomorrow?” I giggle, and then stifle a laugh at Scott’s victory dance.

“How about tomorrow at 10am?”

“I’ll see you then. Thank you Julie, you won’t be disappointed,” I promise.

“I knew you could do it,” Scott beams as he spins me around the living room.

My new start is about to begin.