Change

This 100-word story was originally published in Fairfield Scribes Issue #28.

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Chanchal’s always complaining about her university. The class sizes are unmanageable, the dress code ridiculous for a professor, and administrative duties leave no time for research.

She applies everywhere. She can’t wait to tell her colleagues she’s got another job. She won’t flaunt her triumph – she’ll encourage them to fly away too.

When she gets the email, it’s 1am. Her baby’s just fallen asleep. She’s about to make the first payment on her new condo. Rereading the letter, she waits for the surge of joy. Gazing into the smog-drenched city she must leave, she realises the joy is behind her.

END