Too Late to Call Me Home

Got Fired From the Job

The next day, I was woken up by a phone call. It was the owner of the cremation urn shop.

"Jack Thompson, when are you actually going to settle the rest of the money? It's only 500 bucks. Must you drag this out for a whole month? If you can't pay me within three days, I'm not keeping it for you anymore, and the deposit is non-refundable!"

In a fit of panic, I blurted hoarsely, "Give me a little more time. I'll get paid in two weeks, and then—"

"I can't wait two weeks!" he interrupted me, his tone unfriendly. "I've never seen anyone who drags their feet like you, especially when they're here to buy a cremation urn. Don't order in advance if you don't have the money. Why buy such an expensive one if you can't afford it?"

I wanted to say something, but the call was disconnected before I could even speak.

My head was throbbing. I had no choice but to call the manager to request an advance on my salary.

Sadly, his response was just another blow to my shattered psyche. "Just letting you know, you don't need to come to work today," he said. "We can't pay you your salary either. It's an order from Ms. Thompson, so there's nothing we can do."

My mind went blank as my voice cracked with anxiety. "What you're doing violates labor law! I demand arbitration!"

The manager simply sneered at me, "Arbitration? Go ahead, then. Ms. Thompson said she will bear all the consequences, no matter what they are. Besides, her legal team is second to none in the country. If you insist on asking for trouble, then there's nothing I can do."

Then, he hung up on me.

A feeling of frustration welled up inside me, and I couldn't get over it.

I felt so uncomfortable that my face turned pale. At the same time, my throat tasted like rust.

Suddenly, I vomited a mouthful of blood.

As I stared at the glaring pool of bright red blood, I felt as if a knife was twisting in my heart.

Only after a while did I take out some tissue paper to wipe the blood clean.

Then, I skillfully took out a painkiller and swallowed it whole.

I barely had the strength to move after all that.

As I leaned against the bed, I couldn't help but think about what had happened over the past five years since I was kicked out.

A sudden realization hit me. Nicole was the one who had personally ruined all my backup plans.

Now that I couldn't even work in nightclubs anymore, I would definitely struggle to make ends meet, let alone afford painkillers and a cremation urn.

All I wanted was a decent eternal home when I die. What was so wrong with that?

My eyes fell on my trembling hands, and I finally decided to take a trip back home.

I wanted to ask Nicole what right she had to treat me like this.