CHAPTER 4

Daphne arrived at the firm early, ready to start her day. The 40-minute drive from her home was a huge advantage, sparing her from long hours on a crowded bus and the extra expenses of commuting. Although her job as a janitor wasn't glamorous, she was grateful for the opportunity.

"Here goes nothing," Daphne muttered to herself as she got ready to begin. Work started immediately, and she was handed the tools she needed to make the job easier: a mop, bucket, broom, dustpan, cleaning cloths, disinfectants, and a vacuum cleaner. She also received gloves, cleaning sprays, trash bags, and even a floor buffer for the larger areas. Despite the challenges, she was determined to do her best.

She started with the lobby, making sure to sweep and mop thoroughly. It was quiet, but soon, the hum of office workers arriving began to fill the air. As she moved into the hallway, she overheard snippets of conversations,reports being discussed, deals being closed. She kept her head down, though, focused on the task at hand.

The floor buffer, which had worked fine just a few minutes earlier, suddenly malfunctioned. Daphne sighed, kneeling down to check it, her hands gripping the machine as she tried to troubleshoot.

It wasn’t an easy fix. After a few attempts to get it running again, she realised she’d need to handle the floor by hand. Rolling the buffer to the side, she grabbed the mop and got to work. Just as she was finishing up, the fire alarm suddenly blared, sending a wave of panic through the atmosphere.

Without hesitation, Daphne dropped the mop, her heart racing as she joined the steady stream of office workers heading for the nearest exit. Outside, people gathered in uneasy clusters, their anxious murmurs filling the air. Some debated whether it was a drill, while others feared something more serious.

Moments later, the all-clear sounded, it was just a false alarm. A collective sigh of relief spread through the crowd, and Daphne, brushing off the lingering tension, returned inside. She picked up the mop and resumed where she left off. 

"I’ll never understand why some people enjoy pulling the fire alarm," she muttered under her breath, shaking her head in mild frustration.

With the floor finally spotless, she paused to survey her work. Noon had arrived, and the exhaustion was creeping in, but Daphne wasn’t one to let it slow her down. She took a deep breath, wiping the sweat from her brow. There was still much to do, but for now, she deserved a brief moment of peace.

“I should take a break, “ said Daphne. She headed to the company’s cafeteria. Daphne walked into the cafeteria, the familiar scent of coffee and freshly baked goods greeting her. The counter was lined with an assortment of snacks. She scanned the offerings: a mix of savoury and sweet. There were crisp, golden-brown pastries, a variety of colourful fruits, and bowls of crunchy, salted nuts. A display of granola bars and yoghurt cups sat beside a stack of sandwiches and wraps. 

She debated between grabbing a piece of fruit for a quick, healthy boost or indulging in a gooey chocolate chip cookie. After a moment of consideration, she decided on a bit of both a cookie for a touch of sweetness and an apple for something refreshing. With her snacks in hand, she made her way to a nearby table, ready to enjoy her well-deserved break.

Daphne settled into a quiet corner of the cafeteria, her tray in front of her. The noise of the office felt distant now, muted by the rhythmic hum of the coffee machines and the soft chatter of employees taking a break. She unwrapped the cookie, its warmth still lingering, and took a bite. The rich, gooey chocolate melted against her tongue, but even the comfort of the sweet treat couldn’t stop her mind from wandering.

Life has been relentless lately, pulling her in every direction. The weight of a pregnancy.She felt like she was always on the verge of being overwhelmed, yet somehow, she always managed to keep herself steady. That was the thing about Daphne, no matter how hard things got, she never let it show. She held it all together,for her unborn child, and for herself.

As she chewed thoughtfully, she stared out of the large cafeteria windows, watching people pass by. They all seemed so absorbed in their own worlds, unaware of the invisible battles others might be fighting. A part of her wanted to feel seen, but another part, perhaps the stronger one preferred the solace of her own quiet strength. After all, Daphne had learned long ago that she couldn’t rely on others to keep her afloat. She had to be her own anchor.

She sighed, picking up the apple and taking a crisp bite. The tangy sweetness contrasted with the rich chocolate, a small burst of freshness that mirrored the renewed sense of clarity she sought. She closed her eyes for a brief moment, savouring the moment of stillness. It wasn’t often that she allowed herself to simply pause, to take a breath without thinking of the next task waiting for her.

As she finished her snack, Daphne felt the heaviness that had weighed on her earlier begin to lift. She wasn’t naive, she knew life would throw more at her, that the demands of the day would return the moment she stepped back to work. But for now, in this small, fleeting moment, she allowed herself to feel just a little lighter, a little more refreshed.

Pushing her chair back, Daphne stood up, stretching her tired muscles. Her break was over, but she felt stronger somehow, more prepared to face whatever the afternoon had in store for her. She straightened her back and squared her shoulders.Life wasn’t easy, but she was tougher than anything it threw her way.

Daphne slowly made her way to continue the rest of the tasks for the day, her body heavy with exhaustion but her mind focused on getting through the remaining duties. Each step felt like a small victory, bringing her closer to the moment when she could finally go home, sink into the comfort of her bed, and allow her tired muscles to relax. With Joe around, those thoughts seem rather impossible. As she moved through her work, her thoughts drifted to the next day, already planning how she would tackle its challenges after a good night’s rest.

Finally, she was done, and it was time to head home. Despite the long day, Daphne’s red dress still looked flawless,pristine and elegant; it gave no hint that she’d spent her day working as a janitor. Anyone seeing her now wouldn’t guess the nature of her job. She picked up her worn yet stylish bag, opened it, and pulled out her favourite body spray, spritzing it lightly to revive her fresh, floral scent. With a deep breath, she slung the bag over her shoulder and made her way to the bus stop, standing quietly as she waited for the bus to take her home.