I sit cross-legged on the couch, my laptop balanced on my knees, the glow of the screen illuminating my frustrated expression. Job hunting has never been my favorite activity, and today is no exception. My fingers hover over the keyboard as I scroll through endless listings of in-office jobs. Remote work feels like a distant dream. Is this punishment for quitting my perfectly comfortable, well-paying work-from-home job? If only they didn’t have that stupid clause.
“Evie, what are you doing?” Mom’s voice cuts through my thoughts, soft and curious. She’s sitting on the armchair, her own laptop nestled on her lap. She’s wearing glasses—a new accessory, or rather requirement, yet another reminder of the fact that she’s getting old.
I force a smile despite the unsettling feeling rising in m
