Jamie Morgan had never been late for anything in her life. She set two alarms, color-coded her calendar, and ironed her clothes a week in advance. So when she spilled coffee on her only clean blazer ten minutes before her first big job interview, it felt like a cosmic betrayal.
“I’ve got this,” she whispered to her reflection, frantically dabbing at the stain with a wet cloth. It didn’t work. The stain spread. She tried hiding it with a scarf, but it looked like she was trying to smuggle a ferret under her collar.
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She ran out the door anyway.
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Outside, the city had other plans. The subway stalled between stations. Her phone died. A passing cyclist splashed a wave of gutter water onto her shoes, and by the time she reached the office building—twenty minutes late—her resume was damp and her confidence was in ruins.
She considered turning around. But she didn’t.
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The receptionist gave her a strained smile and told her, “They’re wrapping up interviews.”
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“I understand,” Jamie said, and instead of begging or blaming the trains, she simply asked, “Would it be alright if I left a note for the hiring manager?”
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The receptionist paused. “Sure,” she said, handing over a post-it.
Jamie sat down and wrote something honest. Not desperate. Not rehearsed. Just true.
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Dear Ms. Patel,
Today went wrong in every way. But this job is still right for me. If you're willing to meet me, I’d still love the chance.
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– Jamie Morgan
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She left it, walked out, and went home feeling like a failure.
But three days later, her phone buzzed.
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It was Ms. Patel.
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“Your note stood out,” she said. “Everyone else had the perfect answers. But you had something better: the courage to keep showing up.”
Jamie got the job.
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And a year later, when someone else stumbled into their interview fifteen minutes late, soaked in rain and shame, Jamie offered them a towel and said, “Take a breath. It’s okay. Sometimes the best beginnings come from the worst days.”
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