The Interview - 305 words - I have found a career I truly love (Artist). I have been offered a chance at a world I never thought I would be a part of.

The Interview<br><br>I sat nervously in the waiting room, I never thought I would be here. I never thought I would even get the chance to be here. I was just an artist, but said artist gained some notoriety. I started drawing what I thought looked cool, never an artist, but I used my art as my escape. It found its way to social media, and from there it just spiralled out into something else. I never would say I was an artist but my clients didn’t see it that way. Sure, I took commissions, and they were happy with the results, but I thought it was just a hobby. I drew what made me happy. I drew what I liked. It just so happened they liked what I had created.<br><br>Fast forward to me sitting in a waiting room. A waiting room at one of the biggest tech companies in the world. They had seen my work, and they liked it. They wanted to talk to me. I can’t lie it was quite the ego boost. But it was strange. It wasn’t that I didn’t find these people interesting. I did. I was a consumer. I used their products. But I never thought my work would be anything of interest to them. I never thought I was on their radar. And yet here I was. And yet they did. I mindlessly scrolled through my phone in the waiting room. I was going crazy with all the different thoughts running through my head. I mindlessly scrolled.<br><br>I heard someone call out my name. “Alexis?” I stood up, and looked back at the woman who called out my name. “Hi, I’m Lisa. We met in communications. I’m the one who will be conducting your interview today.”<br><br>I once again stood there dumbfounded. “Hi,” I got out. My voice shook as I spoke “it’s nice to meet you.”<br><br>Lisa smiled “Likewise.” She turned and headed towards the elevator. I once again stood there dumbfounded. I followed her. I stood behind her in the elevator, I couldn’t think of anything to say. She of course could tell. She chuckled “Don’t worry Alexis. I’m not a monster. I promise I’m not as bad as I look.”<br><br>I chuckled slightly “You don’t look bad Mrs. -” I stopped herself “I’m sorry. I don’t know your last name.”<br><br>Lisa laughed “My last name is Thompson. But you can call me Lisa. We’re all very casual.” She said as we stepped into the elevator.<br><br>I smiled slightly “I guess I just don’t know of anyone who works at a company like this.”<br><br>Lisa smiled “I get that. But take a breath. We’re not as scary as you think.” She said as the elevator stopped at the floor we were headed to.<br><br>I followed behind Lisa. She opened up a door to what looked like a conference room. “Have a seat. I’ll go grab your portfolio.<br><br>I nodded slightly and took a seat. I put my hands on the table, and then I took them off. I then put them in my lap, and then back on the table. I couldn’t sit still. I was practically bouncing. I felt like I was going to throw up. I thought about leaving. I didn’t know why I was here. I had a good job. I was happy with my situation. I thought about leaving but then Lisa came back in.<br><br>“Sorry about that.” She said as she sat down. “I had to walk up three flights of stairs.” She laughed.<br><br>I smiled and chuckled “No worries.”<br><br>Lisa smiled and put my portfolio on the table “So I have to say. I looked at this before you got here. But your artwork is very impressive.” She flipped through the pages.<br><br>I blushed “Thank you.”<br><br>Lisa stopped at a page. “What made you draw this?”<br><br>I sighed heavily “I’m sorry. Is said something wrong?”<br><br>Lisa looked back up at me “No. I’m sorry if I gave you that impression. You didn’t do anything wrong. Why did you draw this?” She repeated.<br><br>I sighed heavily “It’s complicated.”<br><br>Lisa set the portfolio down. “Try me. I’m a pretty smart woman.”<br><br>I sighed heavily “I guess to answer your question. I drew it because of a dream.”<br><br>Lisa tilted her head “You know I think you might be the first person I’ve ever interviewed that has said that as their reason.”<br><br>I shrugged “I guess it makes sense. I’m not an artist.”<br><br>Lisa frowned “You’re not?”<br><br>I shook my head “No. I’m just someone who likes to draw. I haven’t had any formal training. I just…draw.”<br><br>Lisa sighed “Such modesty. But I like it.” She picked up the portfolio again “I have to say. Your artwork is very unique. I think you would be a great addition to our team.”<br><br>I smiled and chuckled “Thank you.” I took a deep breath “I have to be honest. I don’t know much about this position you’re offering me.”<br><br>Lisa set the portfolio down “Of course. Let me tell you a little bit more about it.”<br><br>I smiled and chuckled. “Please.”<br><br>Lisa smiled “Of course. What we are looking for is someone who can create a universe. A world. A place for people to escape. You said you draw what you like. We want that. We want you to create a world that you would be happy in.”<br><br>I opened my mouth slightly. I couldn’t believe what I was being offered. I couldn’t believe they were offering me this. But I was happy with my situation. Of course it would be a huge opportunity. But I was happy. And I didn’t know if I was willing to give that up. I thought about leaving. I actually got up from my seat, but then I sat back down. No. I wasn’t going to leave. This was something amazing, and I was going to at least hear Lisa out. And so I did. And what she described was amazing. I had never heard of anything like that before. And it sounded perfect.<br><br>Lisa smiled “So what do you say? Will you join us?”<br><br>I wanted to. And maybe deep down I knew exactly what I was doing. But I just couldn’t do it. I couldn’t leave them. They counted on me. I cared about them all. “I’m sorry. But I think I’m going to have to decline.”<br><br>Lisa frowned “Oh. Alright then.”<br><br>I immediately started to get up from my seat, but then I stopped. “Wait.”<br><br>Lisa looked at me confused “What?”<br><br>I sighed heavily “Look. I don’t know if you know this. But I’m not just an artist.” I sighed heavily once again. “I have…guardianship of some kids. Four to be exact. And your job sounds perfect. But it doesn’t sound stable. It’s something new, and I don’t think that would be fair to them.”<br><br>Lisa tilted her head slightly “You’re right. And you won’t be able to tell them about your new job. You understand that right?”<br><br>I nodded “Yes. I know.”<br><br>Lisa sighed heavily “So you’re declining because of the instability of the job.”<br><br>I nodded “Yes.”<br><br>I saw a small smile on Lisa’s face. “Understood.”<br><br>I once again got up from my seat. And once again I stopped. “Wait. How unstable is the job?”<br><br>Lisa chuckled “Very.”<br><br>I frowned “How long do you think it’ll last?”<br><br>Lisa shrugged “I don’t know. I think it could last forever. But I also think there’s a good chance it could end in two years.”<br><br>I sighed heavily. If there was even a chance this could last, then I had to try. For my siblings. “You know what. I changed my mind.”<br><br>Lisa smiled “I figured you would.”<br><br>I gasped “You knew?”<br><br>Lisa nodded “Yes. I saw it in your eyes. Plus you’re an artist. You’re all about taking chances.”<br><br>I smiled “I guess so.”<br><br>Lisa stood up “Then it’s official. Welcome to the team.”<br><br>I smiled “Thank you.” I smiled. I smiled because I had finally found a career that I truly loved. I smiled because the world they were offering me would be a world I wouldn’t want to leave. And I smiled because I was finally going to be able to give my siblings the life they deserved, and nothing made me happier.