The Decision

Mia sat in her tiny apartment, cradling her growing belly. The soft hum of her laptop on the table was a stark reminder of her latest disappointment. She had spent hours crafting the perfect application for a work-from-home position, only to receive a curt rejection email: "Your device does not meet our system requirements." It felt like yet another roadblock in a journey that was becoming increasingly difficult.

Her boss, Mr. Colburn, was no help either. A rigid man in his late 50s, he saw any deviation from the norm as a sign of weakness. When Mia had informed him of her pregnancy, his response had been far from supportive.

“Congratulations,” he had said stiffly, barely looking up from his computer. Then, after a pause, “Just make sure this doesn’t affect your productivity.”

It was easier said than done. Mia worked as a receptionist at a small law firm, where she spent most of her day on her feet, answering phones, greeting clients, and running errands. As her pregnancy progressed, the fatigue and swelling made even the simplest tasks exhausting.

One afternoon, as she struggled to lug a stack of files across the office, Mr. Colburn stopped her. “Mia, I need you to stay late tonight. There’s a client meeting, and we’ll need coffee and refreshments set up.”

“Sir, I have a doctor’s appointment,” she replied hesitantly.

He frowned, his gray eyebrows knitting together. “Can’t you reschedule? This is important.”

Mia bit her lip to keep from snapping. How could someone be so blind to her struggles? That evening, as she left the office feeling defeated, she made a decision.


---

The next day, Mia began exploring her options. She applied to every remote job she could find. Data entry, virtual assistant positions, online tutoring—anything that would allow her to work from the comfort of her home. But the rejections came just as fast as the applications were sent.

When the email about her computer's size arrived, she almost threw the laptop across the room. Tears streamed down her face as she thought about the future. How was she going to provide for her baby if she couldn’t even find a job that understood her needs?

That weekend, Mia visited her best friend, Ashley. Over tea, she poured out her frustrations.

“I feel like I’m drowning, Ash. Mr. Colburn doesn’t care, and I can’t seem to catch a break anywhere else.”

Ashley, who worked from home at a call center, nodded sympathetically. “I get it. When Romaine was deployed, I felt the same way. But you’re tougher than you think, Mia. Maybe it’s time to think about a bigger change.”

“A bigger change?” Mia asked, frowning.

Ashley leaned forward. “Why don’t you start your own thing? You’re great at organizing and planning. Maybe you could offer virtual services as a freelancer. That way, no boss can tell you your computer isn’t good enough.”

Mia blinked. The idea seemed daunting, but there was a spark of possibility in it.


---

Over the next few weeks, Mia threw herself into building her freelance business. She borrowed a better laptop from Ashley and set up a simple website offering her services as a virtual assistant. Slowly but surely, clients began trickling in.

Mr. Colburn noticed her renewed energy but didn’t ask questions. Mia didn’t owe him an explanation.

By the time her due date was near, Mia had built a steady stream of clients and handed in her resignation at the law firm.

“You’re making a mistake,” Mr. Colburn said gruffly.

Mia smiled. “No, I’m making the right choice for me and my baby.”

As she walked out of the office for the last time, Mia felt a weight lift off her shoulders. The road ahead wouldn’t be easy, but it was hers to choose.

For the first time in months, she felt hopeful—and that made all the difference.