Shamefully Broken

One snowy night, the rain and sleet came in like a lion covering all of the pines that surrounded the cottage they lived in. Anne was scheduled for an early shift but she was unable to open her car door because the ice had covered it completely. There was an inch of frozen rain clinging to the handle of her little red car. Calling in to work to let them know she wouldn't be in for the day due to the weather, she was transferred to Jason. “Hey Anne, I hear you're stuck!” “Yes. I cannot open my car door. The roads look so bad I am not comfortable to drive, even if I could get inside of it.” “Listen Anne; I have had way too many call-offs and we're under pressure to finish with this client. Is there any way that I could come pick you up and bring you to work? I would be happy to take you home after we finish for the night.” Feeling unsure but confident that she was needed, Anne agreed to Jason's offer. She gave him the address to her home and waited for him to arrive. One simple call to Lou to explain, and he would understand that she was being responsible and clearly was needed at the office.“Lou, I am frozen out of my car, so my boss is coming to pick me up for my shift. I wanted to be sure you knew I was safe. I didn't want you to be confused when you saw my car was here but I was not.” "Is your boss picking up other employees too?” "I assume so honey. He said that many people were unable to get there, so I am sure it will be me and others along for the ride.” "Anne, this doesn't seem like something that a normal boss would do! Do you think he is trustworthy? Does he have a girlfriend or wife? I am not very comfortable with this.” "LOU! How dare you think that his intentions are less than good. He is a nice guy; awkward, but nice. He knows that we are engaged. There is zero reason for you to question his motives. Frankly, I am offended! I will see you at the end of my shift! Goodbye!” Flustered, Anne watched for Jason to pull into the driveway. Her plan was to quickly get in and get to work before Lou decided to come home and embarrass her in front of her coworker. She was greeted by a warm singular hello when she opened the door to his new sports car. The leather interior had the new car smell mixed with a strong aftershave, a fresh-out-of-the-shower-smell. Anne couldn’t help but smile. The vast difference in both men was insane; their cars, careers, and self-confidence. Jason made a remark about how small the cottage was and also commented about the neighborhood being very "country.” His comments began to make Anne look at her happy place with a different, not-so-thrilling view. She immediately felt self-conscious about her choices. Anne was raised with less than she had now and had only viewed her current life as one filled with wonderful opportunity and joy. Being in this car with this very different man caused a surge of uncertainty about her future with Lou. She had always seen their future together full of promise. But now in this twenty-minute car ride, Anne had begun to feel trapped! PRESENT-DAY Anne remembered this time as she drove to the clinic to get her drug test done. Had she really been so deprived? Was their run-down neighborhood a vision of what her future would have inevitably been with Lou? She would never know. Hating herself for feeling like a failure at so many things, she began to rethink the business at hand. Why did a dive watering hole like The Bay Restaurant need her to prove herself? Didn’t she come off as a clean-cut and trustworthy woman? Her head began to spin, and she hurriedly began to change her mind about wanting that job. If they couldn’t take her at face value, why should she give them the privilege of employing her? Stopping the car in the nearest parking lot, she firmly decided that the days of her bowing to the rules were over. Anne would not be taking this test. If they wouldn’t hire her off of her own merits, then it was their loss! Sitting in her car trying to decipher what to do next, she glanced up and saw a sign. Could it be an actual ‘sign’? Was this the place she was supposed to be working at? The sign read; ‘The Squadron’. It was another local bar-restaurant-tavern sort of place. She had been here once before in the lazy days of summer before her world crashed all around her. The building brought back memories of sunshine, laughter, beer, and fried foods