Sofia loudly slurped the last bit of her iced coffee as she drove in to work the next morning. Dejectedly, she looked at her 30oz drink, she mumbled, “It’s never enough.”

Sofia looked down at the pile of plastic cups and bottles that had accumulated on the passenger side floor. With a sigh, she rolled down the window and tossed several empty cups into the street.

Yawning, Sofia pulled into her usual parking space and sat a minute to gather her wits before entering the building. She had had the dream of the boy and the beach again, with no more details than before. 

I haven’t had this dream in years, and now I have it nearly every night… Sofia shook her head vigorously.

It probably means nothing, Sofia told herself. Besides, I have too many projects to keep up with to worry about a silly recurring dream. 

As she stepped out of her car, the company CEO pulled into the space beside her. Sofia quickly tossed a blanket she had in the backseat over the remaining pile of plastic containers. 

“Good morning, Madam Hassan!” Sofia greatly admired her boss. She admired the older woman’s poise, fashion, class, and of course, financial success. To Sofia, Madam Hassan represented what every immigrant in England could become if they worked hard enough. One day, Sofia hoped to become like the CEO, and was willing to fight tooth and nail to achieve her dream.

“Morning Ms. Pérez,” replied Madam Hassan in her beautiful lilting voice. “I’m glad I’ve run into you. Would you accompany me to my office?”

Sofia’s eyes widened with excitement. “Certainly, Madam!”

She must have heard about how well I’ve been managing all our projects to stay  within the expected timeframes. I bet she’s proud of the work I have been doing! Could… could she be offering me a promotion?

Sofia noticed Autumn pulling in as she began to follow Madam Hassan into the office building, and gestured excitedly to her. Autumn ignored her.

Undeterred, Sofia followed her boss excitedly to her office where she was invited to shut the door behind her and take a seat.

“Ms. Pérez, I wanted to thank you for all the hard work you’ve been exhibiting lately for our various projects and reports,” started Madam Hassan. “Our output has increased and our contract schedule is punctual and effective.” 

Sofia smiled knowingly and proudly to herself. She had been right after all.

“You have been working so diligently that I wanted to give you a “gift” of sorts. I noticed it’s been a long time since you’ve been on holiday. Do you have plans for the end of the year?”

“No,” replied Sofia.

“Excellent. We have several large projects that will need your attention at that time. You’re by far the best one to handle those particular contracts. Which means you’re free to take a holiday now.”

“T-take a holiday?” asked Sofia, dumbfounded. “Madam, I don’t need a holiday. There are too many things to be done. What about all my current projects?”

“They will be passed on to someone else to handle for the next month.”

“A month?!” Sofia was becoming exasperated. “Why would I take a month of holiday? What would I even do with all that time?”

“Relax, indulge,” said Madam Hassan as she leaned down to rustle around in a drawer. “Maybe do a little introspection.”

“Pardon?”

“Ms. Pérez, it has been brought to my attention, several times, actually,” stated Madam Hassan as she sat up and adjusted her hijab, “that the methods of your management have not been in line with company policy.” 

Sofia’s heart dropped. What?

“It has been reported that you have placed undue responsibilities on recent hires, hurled verbal abuses at a number of the staff, and yesterday told someone they weren’t allowed to go home until they had finished a project that you had distracted them from. You are supposed to manage your workers, not lord over them.”

“B-but Madam!” stammered Sofia, “How is the work to be done when the staff members are simply incompetent at their…”

“Incompetent or unsupported?” Madam Hassan interrupted. “Each of the workers were hired for specific reasons, including skills that could benefit this company. However, your managerial style has created a toxic environment. Our productivity should not be at the expense of our people.”

Sofia was shocked. This had not been what she was expecting to hear, from the Madam or anyone else. Her face began to turn red in frustration. 

Attempting to sound humble, Sofia asked, “D-do you have suggestions of how I could improve?”

Madam Hassan leaned towards Sofia to meet her gaze. “If I have to explain everything to you,” she said slowly and deliberately, “then I would never get any of my own work done, now would I?”

Sofia’s cheeks burned at hearing her own words coming back to bite her. 

Madam Hassan sat back in her chair and leaned her face against her hand. “Sofia, you could be such a strong, supportive asset to this company, but not if you continue with this behavior. Legally, I cannot suspend you from work. However, I can and am asking you to take a much needed holiday to do some thinking.”

“But,” Sofia protested, “do I really need an entire month? I’m sure that I could accomplish whatever… introspection or self-analysis I need in a weekend. I’m a fast learner, Madam!”

“Indeed you are,” acknowledged the CEO, not unkindly, “but not all things are meant to be learned quickly.”

After a short pause, Madam Hassan slid a brochure across the desk to Sofia. “I’ve heard the southern coast can be chilly but lovely this time of year. Take the month. When you come back, let’s have a talk.”

“Yes, Madam,” replied a crestfallen Sofia, mindlessly placing the brochure in her handbag.

The CEO stood and walked Sofia to the door. “Oh, by the way, your holiday begins today. I'll see you in a month's time.”

Caught once again by surprise, Sofia found herself walking dazedly out of Madam Hassan’s office, through the office filled with silent, curious onlookers, and back to her vehicle.

Sofia’s mind raced as she drove home. Storming through the doorway, she tossed her keys on the floor and slumped down on her living room bean bag.

 What just happened?

Sofia’s mobile phone began to ring. Begrudgingly rolling over to reach it, she answered it gruffly.

“Hey,” said Autumn from the other end of the line. “I-I heard what happened. Are you alright?”

Sofia scoffed, “Alright? I’ve been ‘asked’ to take a holiday to figure out how to be a ‘nicer’ manager and not be so ‘toxic.’ No, I’m not alright! This is so embarrassing…”

“That’s a relief,” Autumn sighed. “You do good work and are a great asset to the company,” she said, trying to be encouraging. “But… you could stand to be a little nicer…”

“Wait a minute,” Sofia thought aloud. “Y-you’re the one that reported me to Madam Hassan, weren’t you? You tattled on me because of that incompetent girl? How could you? How dare you!”

“I’m not the only one who expressed concern, but… yes. I did,” responded Autumn. “You were out of line with how you spoke to Tahira, and she isn’t the first person you’ve treated this way. As a company member and co-manager, I had to speak out about your behavior.”

“And what about as a friend?” yelled Sofia, rising angrily. 

“I tried to speak with you, but you wouldn’t listen!” Autumn yelled back. “You are so wrapped up in yourself and climbing up the corporate ladder that you can’t see how incredibly selfish and narrow-minded you have been for years. As your friend, I couldn’t continue to let you think how you were acting was acceptable.”

“Selfish? You think I’m selfish? Everything I’ve done has been for the company. You sure this isn’t just a ploy for you to be given all my contracts? Or… or are you in cahoots with Jasper? I know you’ve both been eyeing my work. I guess now is the perfect time to steal them and get all the credit for my hard work.”

Exasperated, Autumn responded, “That’s… I can’t believe… UGH! Sofia, you really don’t get it, do you? There’s more to life than this company! When will you…?”

Stopping herself, Autumn sighed again. “You know what? Nevermind. It may be impossible for you but… try to figure out a way to enjoy your time off. I know the office will.”  

The line went dead. 

Furious at the accusations and betrayal of her friend, Sofia threw her phone in a fit of rage. She started grabbing anything near her and throwing them across the room. Snatching her handbag off the floor, Sofia flung it at the wall, spilling its contents. 

A light caught her eye as she reached to throw something else, and turned to the source. The earrings she had found in her desk were glowing, radiating a warm, beckoning light in her chaotic living room. 

Warily, Sofia walked across the room. As she drew nearer, the glow became stronger and stronger. When Sofia reached out to pick the earrings up, however, the light suddenly disappeared.

What? 

The blue and green flecked rubies were as mesmerizing as when she had found the earrings the day before. The golden setting was glittering in the white sterile light of her floor lamp, but the glow was gone. 

Looking down again at the floor, Sofia found the brochure given her by Madam Hassan. On the cover was an image of stunningly white cliffs by the ocean. A sudden flashback to her dream on the beach appeared in her mind and just as quickly disappeared. Sofia picked up the brochure and read the title aloud, “The Jurassic Coast: Where the Ancient Lives On.”

Have I… been there before?

Her stomach turned nervously. She noticed that the earrings began to glow once again. Sofia debated what to do as she glanced back and forth in wonder from the earrings to the brochure.

“I guess a holiday wouldn’t hurt.”

The next afternoon Sofia found herself driving en route from London to southern England. By the early evening, she had made it to West Lulworth in Dorset.

I can’t remember having ever been here, she thought to herself, and yet it all feels so… familiar.

It was starting to get dark by the time she settled into her hotel, but she was curious to see if anything nearby prompted any memories. Driving another few minutes, she came upon the Lulworth Cove that had been pictured on the brochure. There was a moderately steep trail and later a set of stairs that led to the beach at the feet of the cliffs. Sofia walked down to the shore and stared out across the expansive, darkening sea. 

She paused at the foot of the stairs, her stomach churning like the waves that beat against the shore. Large bodies of water had made her nervous for as long as she could remember, and to suddenly be by the ocean was nerve-wracking. She clutched the earrings tightly in her pocket and took a deep breath. For some reason, Sofia felt the need to bring them along, and found comfort in the warmth they seemed to bring to her hand. Once she gathered herself, Sofia decided to play it safe and began to walk down the beach along the cliff so as to be as far away as possible from the water.

It was off-season for visitors, so the crowds she had seen in the pictures weren’t present. In fact, she was the only one on the beach. Being alone, Sofia felt safe to allow her mind to wander. The events of the past couple of days ferociously returned and she released a frustrated scream that carried across the waters and bounced off the nearby cliffs. 

The sounds of the waves slowly reclaimed the space when she suddenly heard a faint whimpering. 

What is that? Sofia thought to herself. Walking further down the beach, she searched for the source of the sound. It almost sounds like a dog…

The sound grew louder as she continued down the shoreline, until she came across a large mass of seaweed and driftwood. Is it coming from in there?

The whimpering was indeed coming from the pile of sea matter. Despite the sun quickly disappearing across the horizon and the slowly rising tide, Sofia’s curiosity won her over. She began gingerly pulling away bits of kelp and wood with one hand while keeping her phone light high in the other. She pulled debris for several minutes before her body involuntarily jumped away in shock and terror.

“What is that??”