The burden of expectations from her colleagues and Kevin pressed down heavily on her shoulders.
Kevin was oblivious to her true desires and never paused to consider if his offerings truly resonated with her. Perhaps his actions were shaped by past encounters with other women, leading him to believe that his gestures should automatically be embraced and cherished by any woman.
But she was unlike those women. She longed to unearth her own sense of value.
In the vastness of Capitalis, luxury cars, and glamorous, wealthy women fill the streets, leaving her feeling adrift in this bustling metropolis.
She struggled to find her path and to uncover the purpose of her existence here.
Initially, her goal was simply to earn enough money to repay her student loans. But once that was accomplished, her aspirations grew. She longed to carve out a name for herself in this city, to rise above her class…
But reality proved harsh, and it ruthlessly exposed the folly of her dreams.
Now, she felt adrift, like a ship lost at sea.
She sat in the modest confines of a pasta shop and gazed pensively at the bowl of spaghetti before her. Tears silently traced down her cheeks.
The pressure of life is just overwhelming... Even a simple bowl of vegetarian noodles, without a single piece of meat, costs over fifty bucks in Capitalis.
And here she was, stuck in L.Moon for so long, feeling like she was going nowhere that she felt worthless.
Abigail was in the middle of her dinner when she received a message from Josh.
It was a picture of Irene sitting alone in a pasta shop with tears streaming down her face as she tried to eat her noodles. She looked utterly heartbroken.
Abigail felt a pang of sympathy. She gently placed her fork and knife down and quickly replied to his message.
'Give me the address.'
She drove to the pasta shop. Upon arriving, she stepped inside and scanned the table numbers, searching for Irene.
Finally, she spotted her from behind.
Irene sat with her back to her, her slender shoulders shaking with silent sobs.
Abigail approached quietly and stood behind her for a moment before softly calling out, "Irene."
Startled, Irene turned around with tears still staining her cheeks as she looked up at Abigail.
"What's the matter?" Abigail asked as she took a seat beside her.
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Abigail's Second Life