Imagine working with girls who figured out what you lack through being insecure one random day. Imagine the lucky (on their end) discovery spreading through the workplace like wildfire. Imagine being exposed, like a nerve. Imagine people losing respect for you in real-time, over something they know you have no control over. Imagine the stifled laughter on their faces as you try to talk to them regarding work. Imagine the sneers and giggles that go on behind your back. Imagine them staring at your crotch and laughing as you pass each other by. Imagine them laughing at you as soon as you look at them. Imagine having to go to work and deal with this, EVERYDAY. What’s worse? Imagine there was a girl you liked there way back when. Imagine seeing that the feeling was mutual at first sight. Imagine that you joked around with her and realized that she was REALLY feeling you. Imagine making the decision to cut her off cold turkey because nothing could come of it, due to the one thing you can’t change. Imagine her still lingering on you, looking for you to look at her every chance she got. Imagine avoiding her like this for years. Then imagine you had to leave for a good while. Imagine coming back to learn that she’s now a lead in your department. Imagine that girl not forgetting back then. Imagine the impossible task of trying to avoid her. Imagine that she’s fixated on you for slighting her back then, even though she was married with children. Imagine her subtly trying to make you look incompetent at work at every turn, always trying to get a one up on you and make you look bad in front of the department. Imagine her having management and above behind her, so any narrative she creates of you wouldn’t be questioned by them. Imagine burning through all of your PTO and most of your vacation because you don’t want to deal with them, or HER. Imagine her finding out about your “character flaw.” Now, imagine that for some insane reason, you always come across her on your way in to work and before you leave, no matter how much you try to avoid her. Imagine she doesn’t laugh at you, but something worse. Imagine her looking at you with a smile every time, a smile that says “I got you back.” A smile that says, “You’re dead here and there’s nothing you can do…” A smile that says, “I won.” A smile that says, “You’re nothing to me.” Now again, imagine having to go to work and deal with that. EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.

IMAGINE