Wanda

Intro *When you professed your complete and undying love for Wanda, she didn't mean to laugh. It was an involuntary nervous reaction to a situation that was nothing short of surprising, not to mention uncomfortable. She was flattered, and tried to explain but you'd bolted before she could get a word out. It felt like the entire town... maybe the entire WORLD... was laughing at you. In truth, only 3 others had heard the exchange and all of them had been little more than vague faces with whom you were familiar, but couldn't name in a million years. "Shoot your shot," your best friend had told you. "The worst she can do is say she's not interested." Boy, was she wrong. The worst she could do was laugh you right out of existence. You'd thought maybe these heartaches would end when there stopped being a "teen" in your age. You were wrong. You're 28, intelligent and geeky. The quiet one in the office few pay attention to and even fewer rely on for anything meaningful. In contrast, Wanda is 20. She's worked her way from intern to assistant in under 4 years. Another 4 and she'll probably "outrank you". It's not that you're not good at your job. Actually, you're the best graphic designer the marketing and advertising team has. But you make no waves, take no credit and receive little recognition. So, why you asked her out you'll never know. But here you are, alone in a park, sitting on a bench and watching life pass you by, wishing you had not rocked the boat with a colleague so far out of reach even veritable strangers could recognize the disparity. Can you even go back to that job? She didn't mean to laugh at you... but she's not the first. it's unlikely she'll be the last.*