"So, are you excited for tomorrow?" My friend Nova asks me with a smile, while we are at a café in the mall.

  "Yes, honestly I was quite surprised when I heard that I was hired."

  I look at the steam dancing out of my warm cup of hot chocolate.

  I finally got the job I wanted for so long and after working hard to get my diploma I have been hired by the company of my dreams.

  As if noticing my hesitation she asks: "Are you okay?"

  "Yeah, it's just a lot. Suddenly we just get thrown into the life of an adult. Don't get me wrong, I'm already used to paying taxes for a while now, but now we don't even have school anymore. The thought alone is just crazy"

  Nova laughs: "Yeah, trust me, I know the feeling." She takes a sip of her drink and continues: "But relax, you'll do great. I know you will, I've had to spend the last four years with you anyway."

  "Yes, I know." I answer to her friendly teasing.

  I look outside the glass window, ads are everywhere. There are several for different clothing stores, discounts, implants, magazines, games, etc. They color the place up, unlike the grey buildings around it.

  So tomorrow I still need to pick an outfit, make lunch, not forget breakfast, leave the apartment in time, take the train and get there early. The thoughts of all the things I still need to do stress me out a little, but I will just do whatever I can to make a good first-impression.

  After some shopping and going to the café we return to our apartment and get ready for tomorrow.

  It's pretty scary, I didn't expect to be hired here at the Othersoft office. I just got out of university and this will be my first real job. My first real, grown-up job.

  I am standing in front of the building, not yet sure what to do. It looks gigantic... well, it is a big company after all.

  It still feels like nothing short of a dream, all the studying and cramming for tests has brought me to this very moment.

  I adjust my bag, take a deep breath and enter the glass doors of the building.

  When I walk to the front-desk, the lady behind the desk looks up at me and smiles.

  "Good morning, what can I do for you?"

  "I'm Edith Shaw and it's my first day here." My voice trembles a bit when I say it, I hope I didn't say it too softly.

  She gives me another smile, thank god she heard me!

  "Of course, I can see you right here." She taps with her pen against the screen. "You are very early, that's good. You will need to go to the third floor, here is a keycard to get in."

  "T-thank you!"

  Embarrassed by the compliments and my own awkwardness I take the card thanking her.

  It takes just a few steps to get to my next dilemma, although it may be small.

  Elevator or stairs?

  I check my phone, I surely am still about half an hour too early. It might not be very sporty of me, but I better take the elevator. I don't want to be all sweaty when I start my first day.

  I press the button and wait.

  It takes about two minutes for the elevator to arrive. I still have time, but the closer I get, the more my heart starts beating.

  I quickly get in and as the doors close someone wants to get in.

  His hands are full and he won't be able to press the button if he doesn't put it all down.

  Quickly I spam the 'open' button and the doors open slowly, letting the man inside.

  The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

  "Thanks." He smiles.

  "No problem." I nod.

  He walks to the screen: "Third floor please."

  "Right away." An animated voice says out of a speaker.

  So we need to go to the same floor...

  The elevator doors close and we go up, it feels awkward and luckily the man seems to feel the same.

  "So, you new here?"

  "Yeah, it's my first day."

  "Oh, you must be Edith."

  Honestly I'm rather shocked that he knows.

  "Y-you know me?"

  He laughs as he sees my face, making me want to check if something is wrong with it.

  "Of course! I also work on the third floor and we almost never get any new people here. Unfortunately the higher-ups are rather picky about who they hire."

  "Ah, I see."

  "I'm David by the way, I'm the office manager of our floor. So you can come to me when you have any questions."

  God Edith, what are you doing? The conversation could have been better! I hope I don't leave the wrong impression...

  The soft sound of a bell plays.

  "You have arrived." The elevator lets us know.

  "C'mon, let me introduce you to the rest."

  "Yes please, hey can I help you carry something?"

  He smiles brightly: "Don't worry, I can handle this just fine. But it would be nice if you could open the doors for me."

  "I will."

  "Do you already have a card?"

  "Yes, I got one at the front desk."

  I show him the plastic card, it has the logo in one of its corners and some of my personal info on it including a photo.

  "That's great!"

  Together we walk to the place we need to be.

  "This is the door."

  I nod and place my card against the reader.

  It makes a loud 'BEEP', letting me know that I can open it now.

  When we get inside, I see that the room is very big. It is filled with desks and a couple of printers.

  Most of the light is coming from the morning sun shining through the giant windows.

  A few people are already working hard behind their computers.

  "Will everyone come here for a sec?"

  People look up from their work as David claps in his hands.

  "Please come say hello to our new hire."

  "G-good morning, my name is Edith. I'm looking forward to working with you all."

  Their stares make me uncomfortable, but I still try to stand them.

  Some people greet me and smile, others look annoyed, probably wanting to just return to their work.

  David gives me my first assignment. There is something I need to translate.

  He shows me to my workplace, a desk with a computer, it looks rather empty, but I'm sure I can change that soon. Some people in the office have decorated their desks really nice, with pictures or even origami. Maybe I should ask them about it during lunch break.

  I thank David for showing me the way and start with logging in into the computer.

  It takes only a couple of minutes for me to get started, even though the background is still the default, I would rather change it when I have nothing better to do.

  After a couple of hours one of my colleagues shows up at my desk: "Hey Edith, how is your first assignment going?" she asks while leaning against one of the dividers.

  She looks like a kind person and is dressed rather feminine. Others around us seem to be moving out of the room, it must be lunch break already.

  "It's going well, thank you." I politely answer.

  "Oh, right, I haven't introduced myself yet, have I? My name is Myla."

  A bit awkwardly I answer: "Nice to meet you."

  "Same here, hey how about I show you where we have lunch? Lunchbreak just started after all."

  "Yes please, I would appreciate that."

  Myla laughs: "You don't have to be so polite y'know, I'm probably just a year or two older than you."

  "Thank you, shall we go then?"

  "Yes, follow me!"

  Happily she jumps up and walks fast to the door, I quickly follow suit and leave the workroom behind us.

  This time we don't have to take the elevator, the breakroom is straight ahead. I'm quite surprised when we enter it. It's full of neatly placed plants, on the walls, in pots by the windows and tables. It's also much cleaner than any school canteen I have ever been to. There is also a little fountain that just fits in perfectly, all of this gives me this kind of Zen-feeling. The gentle daylight enters the room, making it seem like the only place filled with nature in the whole city.

  "Hmmmm, is it pretty?" Myla asks teasingly. "You will get used to it after a few years."

  "Still, I didn't really expect something like this."

  "Still used to school canteens?" She asks as if she's reading my mind.

  "Yes, pretty much."

  "Are those plants real?" I ask while waving my hand in a small motion instead of pointing at them all.

  "Nah, none of them. Real plants are way too pricey these days, but these have all sorts of functions, so they're more useful."

  We pick a table close to the windows, after passing a very well hidden office shop for food. I have packed my own food for today, so I won't need to buy anything.

  I take my lunch and water bottle out of my bag.

  "So, what do you have?" Myla asks curiously.

  "Just sandwiches. What about you?"

  "Leftovers from yesterday. I guess we both aren't very creative with this."

  We both laugh.

  "Lynn, though..." She continues: "You should see her lunches sometimes, they can be spectacular."

  "Really, how?"

  "Her wife always packs her lunch. Once with Christmas, Lynn's lunch looked like an entire Christmas tree."

  I look at her surprised: "Wait really?"

  Our chatter continues on for a while and I learn all about Myla and our other colleagues. She seems nice enough, quite the gossiper though. But thanks to that I learn a lot about the place.

  While our conversation is going on, people come and leave. I notice that not everyone comes here.

  "Myla, why doesn't everyone lunch here?" I ask in the middle of a conversation, but luckily it doesn't seem to bother her.

  "Oh, some people rather eat out or even eat at their desks. We are all adults here after all, we can take care of ourselves."

  I nod and the conversation continues until break-time is over.

  Whilst talking we walk back, wish each other good luck and return to our desks.

  I turn on my computer again and continue my work.

  It's finished before the end of the day and I bring it to the manager.

  "As expected, great work Edith." He smiles, his compliment makes me feel happy.

  I thank him for the compliment and he hands me another couple of files: "This is your work for tomorrow, since it is your first day and we have only about an hour left, you can go home now."

  "Okay, thank you." I take the files to my desk and leave them there, hidden. I don't want someone taking them, it's my work after all.