Madi
Mascara streaked down my face as I sat down in front of my laptop camera. My eyes were bloodshot and my cheeks bright red under the foundation I’d just slapped on.
It didn’t help. I attempted to drag air in through my nostrils and then winced as I made a sound closer to a dying lawnmower than a human.
“Come on,” I whispered. “Fuck.”
I snatched a tissue from the pink box on my desk and blotted it under my eyes.
Everything was going to be fine. It was going to be great.
This was the big meeting I’d been waiting for, I just needed to plaster on a big smile and focus on the positive instead of the fact that I’d wasted eight years of my life on someone who never loved me.
Pain lanced through my chest and I tilted my head back.
I had to pull it together. I closed my eyes and visualized a future where I was in the art director role at Dream Ink I’d been working so hard to get, I had enough money for bills and for fun, and I was happy.
It was right here in my grasp, too. I just needed to stop crying and get through this.
Exhaling slowly, I held onto that seed of hope. I focused on the camera and the meeting waiting room, my heart pounding as the screen flashed.
My boss appeared in one box, and then a second popped up. Melanie in HR. That made sense, right? For a promotion.
Working in animation at Dream Ink had been my goal since I was eleven years old. They’d animated the movie that completely changed my life and had ignited the sort of dream everyone warned you about.
I’d wanted to become an artist.
And I’d done it. I was an animator with a full-time job at the studio of my dreams, making it in LA, and I’d been doing everything I could to show them I could handle a larger role in the studio. Taking on extra tasks, working overtime, ensuring that all of my deliverables were perfect.
“Hey Madison,” Tom sighed.
A warning bell went off at his tone. He wasn’t his normal chipper self. Had something happened?
“Hey, Tom,” I said. “Melanie. Good morning.”
“Good morning,” Melanie chimed.
It would be good soon. I wrenched my hands together under my desk.
“Right.” Tom nodded, his brows furrowing together.
“Well, let’s get started. So, Maddison, I just want to start off by saying that we’ve valued you here at Dream Ink the last few years.
You have been such a strong team member.
You’re talented and wonderful to work with.
I’ve truly enjoyed having you on our team. ”
Some of the tension eased out of my shoulders. I’d been waiting for this. Waiting for—
“That’s why it pains me to inform you we have to let you go. Dream Ink is having to rationalize the…”
The oxygen sucked out of the room. My ears started to ring as Tom kept talking, but I couldn’t hear him.
“…We’ve valued you as an animator on our team, but…”
Everything was clammy, too hot, too close. The texture of my clothes felt wrong and the weight of my favorite cardigan I always wore while working was simply too much. It was all too much.
“You’re firing me?” I blurted out.
Tom paused, his expression softening. Melanie immediately jumped in.
“Unfortunately, Dream Ink is having to let you go, yes, that’s correct.” The perfectly practiced compassion in her voice made my skin crawl.
All the years of scraping by at school. All the years of pushing myself to be the best animator. The countless interviews, the constant networking and ass-kissing, the nights I’d eaten cheap ramen just so I could spend money on new makeup so I’d look presentable by LA standards during interviews.
Dean telling me he wanted to break up because I was married to my job.
“We’re deeply sorry for this separation,” Tom continued. “We wish you the very best. Melanie will take over from here.”
“Alright, Madi. So I have some paperwork that I’m going to email over to you—”
I could barely breathe. Sweat sprouted on my skin as I stared at Melanie’s perfect face until my eyes burned. Panic gnawed at my chest.
Everything I’d worked for was gone.
My hands shook as I leaned back in my desk chair. Tension burned in my temples, a hollowness swallowing me whole. Sunlight poured in through the windows behind me, painting my tiny apartment in soft verdant hues.
It didn’t feel real.
“Maddison, are you listening?”
Nope. I couldn’t do this.
I leaned forward and ended the call.
I snapped my laptop closed.
Why was this happening? I’d been working so hard for a promotion, not for this. Had they made a mistake? Was there another Madison working at Dream Ink being fired?
I shoved back from my desk and stood, planting my hands on my head as I stepped into the middle of my living-room-office-bedroom.
All one space that had just enough room for me to pace like a maniac.
I undid my topknot and let my dark hair spill down in waves that reached my lower back, pushing my fingertips against my scalp and trying to massage the fear away.
My phone rattled on my desk, but I ignored it.
“Fuck,” I whispered.
The tears weren’t coming yet. The dam would break at some point, but right now, I couldn’t feel it.
This was what I’d worked so hard for. The dream. The fucking dream job.
My phone rattled again and I marched to answer it without looking, expecting it to be my boss.
“Am I really fired?” I rushed out.
“Oh, um. Hi, I think I may have caught you at a bad time?”
The woman’s voice had a southern lilt to it that definitely did not belong to my New Yorker boss.
“I’m sorry, I was expecting someone else. Who is this?” My voice was high pitched as I wrangled the ice in my chest.
“My name is Avery Whynot. Is this Madison Fletcher? I’m calling about the artist residency in Whynot, Texas.”
I blinked a few times and then a soft laugh bubbled up. Oh god, I was going to have a full-on breakdown.
I’d forgotten about this completely.
Hot tears spilled down my cheeks. “Yes, I’m Madi. I never expected to hear from you. Are you calling to reject me?” I couldn’t help but let out a bitter laugh. It would be my luck to have a third shitty thing happen in such a short span of time.
“Oh no! No, I’m calling because we’d love to have you.
I wanted to see if you were still interested in the residency, and if so, we can send over the welcome packet and nail down the dates.
” Her words picked up to a speed that had my head spinning.
“Really, I know Whynot is a small town, but I promise it’s so charming.
Have you ever been to Texas? It’s out in the desert, but the sunsets are to die for.
I’m also an artist and while I’m biased, this place really is inspiring and wonderful—”
A man’s voice echoed in the background, and she cut herself off with a snort.
“Sorry, that was one of my boyfriends. He says I’m rambling. He’s probably right, though.”
Boyfriends?
“Madi? You still there? Did I scare you off?”
Another laugh slipped out, and with it, more tears. “No,” I sniffled. “You didn’t scare me off. Are you sure—are you sure you want an animator as your artist? I figured most residencies are for people who paint or create art that’s tangible.”
“Well, most of the time, yes. But here’s the thing, I get to make all the decisions about it, and I’ve never met someone in animation. So, I’d love for you to visit.”
I stared out my windows. I’d completely forgotten that I even submitted for this residency. One edible-induced night after a long day that had left my hands aching led me to researching artist residencies in the states, and I’d stumbled across a tiny town in Texas.
My phone started ringing again and I pulled it away from my ear, rejecting the other call trying to come through that was definitely from HR.
Melanie could fuck off right now.
If I didn’t have a job and didn’t have a boyfriend, what did I even have? “Um, can you remind me of the dates and stuff?” Every swallow felt like glass as I wiped away my tears.
“Sure. It’s an eight-week residency and you’d be staying in the loft at Whynot Stay, which is a local inn here in Whynot.
I know you work with digital art, but you’d still have access to materials at Whynot Paint, as well as a private studio space if you’d like.
Additionally, your stay would be covered, and you’d receive a stipend for food.
After the residency is up, we host a gallery show—we can change up the format to accommodate whatever you make.
Maybe a viewing at the movie theater? I have a thousand ideas, honestly. ”
Despite everything, a smile ghosted my lips. I couldn’t help but wonder how many times she could say Whynot in the same breath.
“I have to warn you properly, though, since I saw that you live in a city. Whynot is a really small town. We don’t really have a nightlife, unless you consider howling with coyotes entertainment.
” She laughed at her own joke. “But, the loft is really cool. We made some updates to it last year, so it has a perfect view of the David Mountains in the distance.”
“Avery.” The man’s voice in the background was full of amusement. “You’re going to scare her away.”
“Mateo, shush.” Avery cleared her throat. “I’m pretty sure that covers it. What do you think?”
I chewed on my bottom lip as I stared out the window. My apartment had a good view of the city, a city I loved with every fiber of my being.
But without Dream Ink, what was here for me?
The rug had been yanked out from beneath me, and the last thing I needed to do was run off to Texas. The thing I should have been doing already was applying for new jobs and figuring out what to do next.
Financially, I was fucked. Dean had helped pay for this apartment. After our breakup last night, I was on my own with this place.
Unless I put all my stuff in storage, I wasn’t sure what to do.
Well . . . that thought wasn’t half bad.
Why not leave it all behind?
Slowly, I drew in a shaky breath. “When does it start?”
“Two weeks from today. September 1st.”
I wiped my tears away. Fuck it. “I’m in.”