A Tortured Life - S01 E04

Story 1 month ago

A Tortured Life - S01 E04

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 4

Movies By A Fidelis Production

Episode 4: A Tortured Life

Leo stood at the bottom of the giant glass tower. The building was so tall that he had to tilt his head all the way back just to see the top. It looked like a mountain of mirrors reflecting the bright city sun. Leo looked at his own reflection in the glass door. He looked at his burnt sleeve where the fire had eaten the fabric. He looked at his muddy shoes that were covered in the dust of the city and the soot of the restaurant. He looked like a beggar who had been lost in the woods for weeks. He looked like someone who did not belong in a place of money and power. But inside his chest, his heart was beating with the strength of a lion. He had the heart of a king, and he knew it. He had survived poverty, he had survived the fire, and he was still standing.

He walked through the sliding doors. The air inside was cool and smelled like expensive perfume and fresh coffee. It was very different from the hot, smoky kitchen where he had been only an hour ago. The floor was made of white marble that was so clean Leo could see his tired face in it. He walked to the front desk. A young man with a very neat haircut and a gold tie looked up. When the man saw Leo, he wrinkled his nose as if he had smelled something rotten.

"Can I help you?" the man asked. He said it in a way that sounded like he really wanted to say "Please leave."

"I am here for the General Assistant interview," Leo said. He tried to stand as tall as he could. He did not let the pain in his burnt arm show on his face.

The man laughed. It was a cold, mean laugh. "You? An assistant here? This is a world class company, not a charity house. You look like you just crawled out of a hole in the ground. Go home and take a bath, boy."

Leo did not move. He did not get angry. He had learned that anger does not fill an empty stomach. "The advertisement said the CEO wants someone who is hardworking and ready for anything. I have been through fire today. I am ready for anything. Please, just put my name on the list."

The man at the desk sighed and rolled his eyes. He wrote Leo’s name at the very bottom of a long list. "Fine. Sit over there. But do not get dirt on the chairs. And do not expect to be called. We have people with degrees from the best schools in the world sitting here."

Leo went to the corner of the waiting room. He did not sit on the fancy leather chairs because he did not want to ruin them with the soot on his suit. Instead, he stood by the wall. He stood there for one hour. Then two hours. The other men in the room were called one by one. They went into the big elevator and came back down looking happy or nervous. None of them looked at Leo. They acted like he was invisible. They mocked him with their eyes. They whispered to each other about the "smelly boy" in the corner.

Hours passed. The sun moved across the sky. Leo’s legs began to shake. He had not eaten anything since a small piece of bread the night before. His burnt arm was throbbing. It felt like needles were being poked into his skin. His head felt light, and he felt like he might faint. But he stayed. He refused to leave. He told himself that every minute he stood there was a victory. He was showing the world that he could not be broken.

After eight hours, the lobby was almost empty. The bright lights were turned down. The man at the front desk was packing his bag. He looked at Leo and seemed shocked that he was still there.

"You are still here?" the man asked.

"Everyone else has gone home. The manager is about to leave."

"I am still here," Leo said. His voice was a bit dry, but it was firm.

The man sighed. He picked up his phone and spoke to someone. A minute later, he looked at Leo. "Fine. The manager says you can come up for five minutes. Go to the 40th floor. And hurry up."

Leo went into the elevator. When the doors opened on the 40th floor, he saw a large office. A man was sitting behind a desk made of dark wood. This was the manager. He was a man with gray hair and eyes that looked like they could see through a person’s soul. He looked at Leo’s burnt clothes and his messy hair. He did not laugh. He did not look disgusted. He just looked interested.

"Why are you still here, son?" the manager asked. "The desk clerk told me you have been standing in the lobby for eight hours without sitting down. Why didn't you go home when you saw how you looked?"

Leo took a deep breath. "Because a job is not about a suit, sir. A suit can be bought. A degree can be earned. But patience and hard work are things you are born with. I stayed because I need this breakthrough. I stayed because I have a mother to feed and a future to build. I stayed because I am not a quitter."

The manager leaned back in his chair. He looked at Leo’s arm. "You were in a fire today?"

"Yes, sir. I saved the restaurant where I worked. But the owner had to close it, so I lost my job. I saw your ad in the paper on my way here. I didn't have time to change. I only had time to choose between giving up or showing up. I chose to show up."

The manager nodded slowly. He looked impressed. For the first time in a long time, someone was looking at Leo with respect. "You have a strong spirit, Leo. I like that. We need people who don't run when things get difficult. Most of the men who came here today would have cried if they got a drop of coffee on their shirts. You fought a fire and stood for eight hours. That is amazing."

Leo felt a surge of joy. Was this it? Was the door finally opening?

But then, the manager’s face became sad. He looked at a paper on his desk. "Leo, I want to hire you. I really do. You have the heart for this. But this job is for a General Assistant to the CEO. The CEO travels all over the city. He goes to meetings at all hours of the night. He needs an assistant who can be there in a flash. The job description says we need someone with a car. Do you have a car, Leo?"

Leo’s heart stopped. He thought about his leaky shack. He thought about the bread he could barely afford. "No, sir," Leo whispered. "I do not have a car. I walked here."

The manager sighed. "I am so sorry. The CEO is a very busy man. He doesn't have time to wait for someone taking the bus or walking. Without a car, you cannot do the work he needs. You are a great young man, Leo. You will find something else.

But for this specific role, we need a car."

Leo felt like a heavy weight had been dropped on his head. He had done everything right. He had been patient. He had been brave. He had been the best student. But the world had found another lock. A car. How could a boy who washed dishes buy a car? It was impossible. It was unfair.

"Thank you for your time, sir," Leo said. He turned around before the manager could see the pain in his eyes.

He went down the elevator. He walked past the man at the front desk, who was now smirking because he knew Leo didn't get the job. Leo walked out of the glass doors and back into the humid city air. The sun was almost gone. The city was turning blue and orange.

Leo felt defeated. Truly defeated. He had fought so hard, but it wasn't enough. He started to walk toward the street. He didn't know where he was going. He couldn't go back to the restaurant. He couldn't go to Sarah because her father would laugh at him. He felt like he was walking in a dream, or a nightmare.

He reached the edge of a very busy road. There were many cars rushing by. There was a school nearby, and a group of children were walking across the crosswalk. They were laughing and playing. They were wearing yellow uniforms and carrying heavy backpacks. They were innocent and happy, not knowing how hard the world could be.

Suddenly, Leo heard a loud screech. It was the sound of tires screaming against the asphalt.

He looked to his left. A luxury car, a very expensive silver one, was speeding down the road. The driver seemed to be panicking. The car was spinning out of control. It hit a patch of oil on the road and started to slide sideways. It was moving fast, like a silver bullet.

Leo’s eyes widened. The car was not stopping. It was heading straight for the group of schoolchildren in the middle of the road. The children didn't see it yet.

They were busy talking to each other. The teacher at the front was looking the other way.

Everything happened in slow motion for Leo. He saw the silver car spinning. He saw the children. He saw the terror in the driver’s face through the windshield.

Leo forgot about his burnt arm. He forgot about his hunger. He forgot about the job he didn't get. He forgot about the car he didn't own. All he saw was the danger.

Do you think the manager was being unfair by requiring a car, or was it just business?

What do you think will happen to the children?

Don't Miss the Next Breath!

The car is sliding, the children are screaming, and Leo is standing in the gap! Is this the breakthrough he was looking for, or is it a tragedy that will break our hearts?

This is "A Tortured Life," and the story is only getting more intense!

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