Harmony Woods stares deeply into the blue hued computer screen while rattling her keyboard, as they blend into a busy newsroom, to churn-out a story to satisfy her newspaper’s fiery editor. Her fingers explode into each key as the clock ticks in her mind – tick, tick, tick. As she hammers away on the keyboard, the phone rings, jolting her upright, terrified as she sees the editor’s name on the caller ID – what did I do wrong now? – she thinks to herself.

Picking up and putting the receiver to her ear, Harmony hears her editor whisper, “Don’t forget to leave a little carrot in your story – I don’t like reading a research paper of the event and neither do our subscribers.”

“Of course, you’ve etched it into my memory.”

The walls of the office feel more and more like a cage, as if she is some tiger at the zoo. Harmony pretends the job is satisfying – no, the job is satisfying, the editor is not. 

Folks will be lined up for hours waiting for any new kitchen appliance as workers continue to strike. With a sigh, letting the stress of the day dissipate, Harmony saves the document, attaches it to an email, and hits send to her editor, thinking, …that’s the trick, go home and let this place wash away.

The newspaper editor would make anyone feel filthy, having to work with the feeling of judgement and worrying about the lashing she’ll inevitably receive. Yet she continues to work hard and take the emotional beating because deep down, she knows all she needs to do is save enough money to leave this tiny city and go abroad. 

Walking to her car in the small parking lot behind the newspaper headquarters she notices a single crow standing at the driver’s side door. She takes a quick look at her surroundings and relaxes- this isn’t a Hitchcock film. The bird flutters away as she approaches. 

Another day in the books.