14 All the Best Supports

Jessica made a raucous laugh, as she scrutinized Melody's body from head to toe. She then questioned, "Are you sure about not taking those pills? You have some extra weight on you for sure, and you'll earn more if you lose it. Men prefer skinny women, trust me, I've been working here for years. They like small women, and you're not small. You have a big butt like a large hamburger."

Melody felt humiliated as the words hit her like gunshots, causing her cheeks to flare up. She lowered her head in embarrassment.

"I'll think about it, thanks," Melody stuttered out a reply, and then stumbled towards the door.

As the sound of Jessica's laughter disappeared behind her, Melody stopped for a moment and took a deep breath, trying to process what had just happened.

She was Melody Brynleigh, a graduate student with a pile of debt and a heap of coursework. She had come to Xicorra Corporation to earn some money and pay off her debts, but the backstage environment had already left her disoriented.

Because of her reputation as a bookworm, her studious nature and heavy workload who was always seen with a large backpack in the library, the conversation in the dressing room made Melody feel uneasy. The talk of drugs, diet pills, laxatives, and the suggestion to lose weight made her wonder about the obsession with weight loss. Moreover, she looked ridiculous in the beige dress she was wearing that drew attention to every curve of her body. She couldn't help but wonder what kind of workplace she had landed herself in.

However, her attempt to leave the room unnoticed was in vain as Celia suddenly appeared and beckoned for her to come over.

She looked at Celia who grunted and examined her appearance from head to toe, finally said, "Looks good. Perfect!"

Melody stumbled over her words, her face turning a bright shade of red. "You don't think this dress is ... um, a little small?" she asked hesitantly, pulling on the hem.

Celia dismissed Melody's concerns with a casual response and a quick glance towards her office. "Just ignore her," she said, giving Melody a kind look. "Don't worry, you'll be fine."

"Thanks again, Celia," she said, smiling gratefully.

Celia waved it off. "No problem. It happens to the best of us," she said, smiling back. "Now let's get back to work."

Melody breathed deeply, feeling the tightness of the shoes and the swaying and teetering caused by the stilettos. However, she reminded herself that she was here for the money.

Oh gosh, she just wanted to go home. It was her first day on the job, and all she wanted was to curl up and disappear into a corner.

But then the words Sarah spoke echoed in her mind.

Her sister commanded sternly earlier this morning, "Keep your chin up. Chin up, shoulders straight, chest out."

So taking a deep breath, tears prickling in her eyes, she straightened her spine. Tilting her chin upwards, she set her jaw into a determined jut, and forced another bright smile onto her face.

It was after ten o'clock that night when she finally finished with everything she thought she could accomplish that day and sent an e-mail to Morgan, giving him an update.

By the time she returned to her sister's apartment, she was hungry and exhausted. She thought about stopping somewhere to get something to eat, knowing that the small cafe near to the apartment was closed by now. But since she only had about two hundred dollars in her account, the amount she'd earned from her last job, she was loathe to spend any of it on something as silly as food.

As she opened the door, she paused, watching her sister, Sarah, was so determined and focused, looking down at her laptop for a long moment before typing something.

She could barely resist the urge to tell Sarah everything that had happened that day. But it was past ten o'clock now and all she really wanted was sleep. Eight hours of sleep and started another day at the new office, she corrected.

Sarah looked up from her laptop and looked over when Melody stepped inside the apartment. A bright smile lit up her pale features, and Melody could detect the sparkle from her dark brown hair even across the dimly lit room.

She bolted from the couch and rushed over to Melody, who was almost halfway across the room. "Mel!" she exclaimed.

They ran into each other's arms and laughed cheerfully, feeling the warmth of their sisterly bond. Despite the stresses of work and life, being back with her sister made Melody feel safe and comforted.

Melody smiled, feeling happy to see her sister. She and Sarah had always been very close, and she was glad to be back home.

"Whoopee! You got the job!" Sarah whispered softly because it was quiet time now. "I told you that your luck would change eventually!"

Melody hugged her tightly, afraid that if she acknowledged anything like good luck for fear that she might jinx it.

Sarah kissed her cheek, hugging her even more tightly. "I'm so proud of you!" she whispered.

"I'm going to be okay," Melody said, fighting back the tears. Tears hadn't done anything to save her over the past several months, so they were pointless. A waste of energy!

"Come on," Melody said as they moved to the bedroom.

"Clean yourself and go to sleep," Sarah said. "You look tired. We'll talk in the morning."

"I'm so hungry now. I want to eat my fill to give myself a good reward."

When Sarah heard that, she burst out laughing.

"Wow, Mel, you really know how to motivate yourself."

Melody chuckled and gave a cheerful response, "Hey, food is a great motivator. Since I put in a lot of effort today, I believe I am deserving of a treat."

"I totally get it. But you know, there are other ways to reward yourself besides food."

"Like what?"

Sarah responded gleefully and with a smile, "Well, how about a nice bubble bath or a new book?"

Shaking her head, Melody replied, "Nah, I think I'll stick with the food."

"Alright, your call. But just remember, too much of a good thing can be a bad thing."

"Are you saying I'm going to get fat from eating too much foods?"

Playing along with the jokes, Sarah said, "No, no, of course not. But you might turn into a giant meatball."

With a chuckle, Melody replied, "That's ridiculous! But now I really want some hot, spicy instant noodles with meatballs."

Rolling her eyes, Sarah replied, "I should have known that was coming. Alright then, go get some food before you turn into a giant noodle."

As the night wore on and she finished their meal, Melody felt a sense of contentment wash over her. Despite the challenges she faced at work, she was grateful to have a sister like Sarah who could make her laugh and remind her to take a break every once in a while.

Later that night, as Melody lay in bed, she thought back to her first day at Xicorra Corporation. She remembered feeling nervous and overwhelmed, but also excited about the opportunities ahead of her. Despite the difficult moments she had faced since then, she was determined to learn as much as she could and make the most of her time at the company.

As she drifted off to sleep, Melody felt a sense of determination wash over her. She knew that the road ahead would be challenging, but with the support of her friends and the skills she was learning, she was confident that she could overcome any obstacle. She might not make it very long there, but she'd learn as much as she could along the way!