For a few seconds he wondered if it was a mistake, a cruel joke, or perhaps a misunderstanding on the part of the receptionist who had looked at him with the same compassion reserved for lost causes that go unnoticed.
But then another message appeared on the screen, this time shorter, clearer and much more urgent, leaving no room for misinterpretations or doubts.
Mr. Herrera, please return immediately. The request comes directly from the CEO.
Luis felt his chest tighten as he reread the words, trying to understand how the same company that had coldly dismissed him now wanted him back urgently, almost desperately, as if something had drastically changed behind those glass doors.
He slowly rose from the plastic box, wiping the rain from his cheeks, though he was no longer sure whether the dampness came from the storm or from the overwhelming confusion swirling inside him.
He adjusted the damp collar of his shirt, smoothed the wrinkled edges, and took a deep breath, as if burning his lungs, in a final attempt to gather courage before facing the unknown.
Walking back towards the building felt like approaching the edge of a cliff, because each step carried fear, hope, and disbelief in equal measure, creating a storm far stronger than the one I had survived minutes before.
Upon reaching the entrance, the same guard who had harshly judged him moments before straightened his posture and spoke to him in a tone completely transformed from skepticism to forced respect.
