There’s another long silence. But then, suddenly, Chloe blurts out a question that I never would have expected. “Do you think you should… I don’t know, try to stop him from leaving?” Her question catches me off guard. I whirl around to face her, my mouth agape. “Stop him?” I repeat, the absurd
Abby The smell of roasted coffee beans and fresh pastries fills the air as I step into the brunch spot where Chloe, Lea and I meet up once a week. It’s been a tradition of ours for years, and I’m glad to have things back to normal now that the cook-off is over Normal. The word feels foreign. A
Chloe nods emphatically. “Leah is right. You can'’ let one setback define you. And you were amazing at the cook-off, despite the mishaps. You have a gift, Abby.” I shrug, avoiding their gazes as I take a sip of my coffee. “Maybe. But right now, I really am enjoying the managerial work. It’s less..
Abby As soon as the door opens and Mr. Thompson’s figure appears in the doorway, my heart jumps into my throat. A palpable wave of embarrassment washes over me; I’m suddenly painfully aware of my disheveled appearance. My hair is pulled back into a messy bun, a few stray locks defiantly escapi
The footage begins, and the scene comes to life in front of my eyes. It’s the morning of the cook-off, the prep time that I missed in the morning. The contestants are busy chatting, chopping, and rearranging while various staff wander around the stage, finishing up last-minute tasks. My station is
Karl The front door creaks loudly as I push it open, the sound echoing off the walls of the foyer to my all-too-quiet house. I’ve just come home from the city, with Abby’s words still fresh on my mind. Mistake. Shouldn’t have happened. Never happening again. It feels like tiny knives being stuck
Abby The moment Mr. Thompson utters the words, the whole world seems to stop. I’m still sitting at my desk in my cluttered little office, but I feel as though I’ve been launched into outer space; it’s like that feeling in a dream when you suddenly fall from an impossible height, only to wake up ju
I’ll have to be at my best on Saturday, to cook like I’ve never cooked before. I’ll need to plan a menu that showcases not just my skills but my spirit. And I’ll have to pour every ounce of passion I have onto those plates. Saturday. The judges. My kitchen. I can do this. I hope. … As I step